How's it going kids? I'm gonna be honest right now, this post has nothing to do with anything that is pickled or koalas. But it did get your attention right? 
A blog titled Life Update is just too boring to me. It needs spicing up. Or maybe life needs to be a bit more pickled. Okay, so I've managed to tie in "pickled" into this post. It's not a complete let down or fake out now… Alright, so in the time it took me to write that, I actually decided to run a google image search on koalas and pickles out of morbid curiousity. This is what I found. It's everyone's lucky night and bonus points to all of us for the extra tidbit of having the head of Willie Nelson in there too.
So, an update on my life! Life is and has been a constant whirlwind. Most of the time I feel like I'm barely hanging on by the seat of my pants, but that's what makes life so exciting I think. It's always in motion. Something is always new around the corner. I love it! I feel so blessed right now. God has just shown up time and time again lately in my life. So here's the current run down on what's going on!
First, and this is a big one! I've met my first deadline for finances and then some!!! Right now I'm sitting at $3,964 raised so far! To everyone who has donated, thank you so so much!! I'm in the process of writing a bunch of thank you letters, but it's a little slow going. There will be a mass mailing of them soon. Thank you thank you thank you! If you haven't had the chance to donate and would like to, it's your lucky day! There's still plenty of time to do so. Just check out the link to the left regarding Support.
Second, in case the memo was missed, I'm back from Germany. I spent a few days in Ohio with the family which was wonderful. For the last six years it's been, "fly home Saturday/Sunday and sitting in class (and likely sleeping due to jetlag) on Monday." So to not have to do that, and have a moment to kick my feet up and unwind after a busy summer was super nice. While I was home, I was blessed with the chance to give the message at my home church I grew up in. That was really my first time ever getting up in front of a crowd like that and speaking about my faith, the World Race, and what God's been up to. It went very well and was a little bit of a confidence boost for those impromptu speakings opportunities that I'm sure will happen next year.
Third. So after Ohio, it was off to Iowa. Yes, there is a difference. Let me help you out here with a little map.
Make sense now? Okay, so I'm now out in Iowa working full time with Camp Adventure for the next couple of months in the main office. I've been here for the past two years as a grad assistant and was blessed with the opportunity to work full time until leaving for the World Race in January. For selfish reasons, it'd be nice to be in Ohio leading up to leaving, but for every other reason that makes sense, coming back to Iowa was the best thing to do. So I am happy to be back out here amongst some great friends and support as well.
We will see on the support though, seeing how in little over a week, work is giving me the boot from the main office for about 10 days. They're in need of someone to go and supervise our fall break program and while I thought I was hanging up those black shoes for the final time a few weeks ago, like the Justin Bieberster said/sang, "never say never." Sadly, those 10 days will be spent in this little podunk place out literally in the middle of nowhere. But, I decided to do my civic duty and agree to go on their behalf to Hawaii for that time. It'll be rough, but I'll manage. 🙂
Finally! Training camp is quickly approaching. We're down to just weeks now instead of months and I cannot wait! Honestly, this is more exciting to me that Hawaii. I'm finally going to get to meet all of these amazing guys and gals who I've been getting to know since this spring and it'll be great to finally meet everyone in person. I think that'll be the point when this whole WR thing becomes super real and that our launch out into the field isn't all that far off.
Until next time!
