I want to be able to put into words the reasons behind my decision to go on the World Race. For my family and friends to understand not just what I will be doing, but why. I’ve come to realize rather quickly why I was given a love for math, instead of writing. Blogging is hard.
Something I learned a long time ago is that things are what you make of them. You can see the good in a situation or you can see the bad – choosing joy or choosing to complain. Think about how much happier the world would be if we all chose joy every single day.
Instead of looking at the things I’m going to be missing out on next year, I choose to look at the things I’m going to gain.
I could only think about how many of my best friends weddings I don’t get to attend (three so far but who’s counting), possible friends engagements I could miss, family holidays and traditions I won’t be present for, or all the memories along the way. But then I remember my cousin along with thousands of others – who has given up years with his family to serve our country and continue to fight for our freedom. Freedom that most of us take for granted day in and day out.
I’m excited to be challenged next year. Each day is going to come with its own highs and lows and at some point on the race, the life I will soon be living is going to seem completely normal. I don’t want to take waking up in Europe, Africa, and Asia for granted. I’m excited to experience a life of bucket showers, to live out of a backpack for a year, and hopefully learn a lot throughout the process.
My mom cried every single time I left home and every time she left Austin during the four years I was in college. I typically saw my parents once a month, occasionally two, and I was only two and a half hours away. Yet her tears as my car left the driveway or we hugged as she got into the passenger seat with my dad never stopped coming.
Can you imagine what this goodbye is going to look like? I refuse to let myself think about it.
How do I begin to explain to all of you that I’m homesick for places I’ve never been and I’m in love with the people there I’ve never met.
Pretty bold statement, I know. But those words couldn’t be truer.
Every world racer alumni tells you the same thing – go into it with zero expectations. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done but I’m trying, I promise.
When I was considering whether or not to participate in the World Race, doubt crept up on me – $16,267 is a lot of money. The idea of asking friends, family, and strangers for money is uncomfortable. Honestly, fundraising could be the reason a lot of people don’t participate in programs like this.
If I’m being completely truthful, I committed to the World Race with the intentions of finding a way to fund the entire thing myself.
In addition to funding the entire thing myself, I gave myself another goal. To leave America fully funded – my own personal deadline of September 1. (The official deadline to be fully funded is four months into the race, which would be the end of December for me).
It didn’t take long until I realized what raising support was really about. It didn’t take long until I realized that I wasn’t meant to do this alone. God wanted to show me that He was in charge and I was not. A lesson I am often reminded of yet still quick to forget. And He did just that.
Because in less than two months time, I am 47% funded!!
What? Wow. That is incredible.
For that, I want to thank you all. Thank you for praying for me, for your kind words of encouragement, and for reminding me (and my sweet parents) how incredible of an opportunity this is going to be.
Thank you for supporting me – financially and/or prayerfully.
If you haven’t gone to the left side of my blog, please do so and click “Subscribe” so that you can follow along during my journey! If you would still like to order a shirt, you can do so here until June 14!
**For those who have asked how they can support me financially, there are two ways: You can click “Support Me!” at the top of my blog or on the left hand side and do it online. Or you can write a check payable to Adventures in Missions with Rosie Schneider in the memo line and mail it to: Adventures in Missions, PO Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374-2570.
With love and a thankful heart,
Rosie
