Hi 🙂 This whole blog concept is still something I’m getting used to because it’s a strange concept to think that things very personal about my life and my heart are out in the open for ANYONE to read; also that people would want to actually sit down and read through one of these in such a busy culture kinda blows my mind. Nonetheless, here we go.
So, basically this blog is an update of the following things going on in my life:
1. Preparation for the World Race
After applying for the World Race back in October, being accepted in November, telling my close friends and family in December, and telling my job in January that I wouldn’t be coming back next school year, we are now here in August, with less than two months before I leave for our first stop in Chile. If you do the math, I found out I would be leaving 11 months in advance, and now we are down to just 2. Time is literally flying. This month our Squad has a 10 day training camp in Georgia at the Adventures in Missions Headquarters, then I will turn around to enjoy September at home, then the first week of October we are out! I’ve been talking about this with so many people for months and now the time for it to happen is almost here. Crazy.
While time seems to be flying, a lot has happened since last October, as far as preparation goes, which I learned pretty early on, thankfully. I’ve met with about 5 or 6 people who have been on the World Race before just to listen to their experiences, perspectives, advice, and anything else they would tell me (ha). One of these racers is an amazing person, Nicole, who was actually the one I learned about the World Race from- That’s a God story for another time, but anyways, she’s been an incredible friend and point of reference on what to expect, how to prepare, what to bring, what you think you’ll need, but actually don’t, etc. I can’t talk about preparation without mentioning her becasue she has been so kind, generous, honest, and important in this part of the process. She’s even gone with me to REI on multiple occasions to help me pick out my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, daypack, and all the other items necessary for training camp and the race. I thank God for her, because there was so much I didn’t know in that area, and because of the sweet friendship He has blessd us with.
2. Fundraising Updates
Wow. Just wow. “Overwhelming” doesn’t even scratch the surface of the whole fundraising process/experience. From the beginning, I knew it was a very large chuck of money to raise, but I had faith God would provide, because He always does. $18,000 plus shots, prescriptions, equipment, travel to and from Georgia to training camp, and then anything extra (like bottled water) while on the WR….so we are looking at around 20-23K. These things are expensive.
So like I said, I knew God would provide, but in the midst of everything, nothing in me wanted to ask people to support me financially. Adventures in Missions strongly suggests us writing fundraising letters to let people know what we are doing, ask for prayer, and support us financially if they feel led to. Ya’ll I had a bad attitude about this, not because I don’t agree with it, but just because I didn’t want to. Some might even say I was a little prideful. And I was honest with God about my feelings. There were many nights that I cried at His feet and asked for direction to submit to what He wanted. I agreed to wait until after other fundraisers, and then I would do it. (FYI- I never did, but that’s because of what He did, despite my attitude. He is so patient, and I’m so thankful because I can definitely require a lot of patience from others.)
Anyways, I decided to design T-shirts and sell those as my first fundraiser. I orderded 250 shirts, paid $8.50 for each one, and sold them for $20 each. That was an amazing success, and opened up the opportunity to talk to so many people about what God was doing in my life. A good friend of mine offered to host a Stella & Dot jewelry party and give me the portion of the sales she would normally get instead of the credits, and that led to someone else doing another jewelry party for me, too. My friends and family have been SO supportive with all these fundraisers, as well. God showed me over and over again how beautiful the people around me were, not because they wanted to “give me money” but because of the genuine love they have for me and the generosity in their hearts. So many people have offered an array of different suggestions, help, and time. That alone, was overwhelming and humbling.
Now, money in general is a subject that is uncomfortable to talk about for most people, myself included, but like I told you in my first blog, I promise to be completely open, honest, and even vulnerable with you. “Transparent,” if you will. I understand that not everyone agrees with the “fundraising” concept, and honestly I go back and forth in my head about lots of decisions I make around it, but I try to ask God about those decisions and trust Him to show me His thoughts. At this point in time, my blog website shows that $16,000 of the $18,000 goal has been met. Some of these donations were from people directly clicking on the link and supporting me, or mailing a check to Adventures in Missions. Some of that 16K was money I sent from cash people had given to me, checks made made out in my name, and the money from the shirt fundraiser. I want you to know that at this point in time, my goal of $18,000 has been met, but I used the other $2,000 for shots and equipment. There was over $5,000 that people have given me directly and given me permission to “use it as I feel needed” for the race. Some of that I sent to Adventures in Missions on my account, and like I just said, some I used for other expenses on top of that.
If more money comes in, I would continue to be extremely grateful, but I am not expecting it nor am I asking for it with a fundraising letter. I wouldn’t turn it down, but again, I’m already in awe of what He’s provided through the generosity of those around me, and even anonymous donations from people I wish I could thank personally.
That may have been more than you cared to read about, but regardless, THANK YOU for supporting me and THANK YOU for prayers. Whether you were doing either or both! I could not do this without you and I WANT you to be in this with me.
3. Life Transitions
Since my last blog post in April (sorry for the delay), there’s been quite a few big changes in my life here. One of the biggest has been resigning from Homestead, where I’ve been teaching 4th grade the past 4 years. Not going to lie, that was really tough for me. Mentally, I knew what God was calling me to and I knew that it would be so incredible, but emotionally, I didn’t want to say goodbye to my students here, my work family, and the amazing families I’ve been blessed to meet and get to know at Homestead. To think I wouldn’t see their faces in the hallways next school year caused some serious heartache. Through lots of encouragement, love, and some really great listeners, we made it through, and I’m still in contact with SO many of the wonderful people there. God made some lifelong friendships while He had me there. ((This is where I marvel at His kindness. ))
Another life transition is happening right about now. I’m in the process of packing up my stuff, sorting through the things I don’t need to hold on to, and moving in with one of my best friends, Hallye. She’s been generous enough to let me keep my stuff in one of the extra rooms of her house and live with her before and after the race. How awesome, right?! I’ve been living with my current roomie/one of my favorite people/my “bae” Selena, for the past two years, and our lease is up on the 17th of this month. Again, He made a way for a smooth transition here, because He says, “yes” He will make a way. It’s sad leaving her because we’ve had such a good time together, but this next season will bring something new He’s got for both of us.
4. Summer Happenings
This summer has been one for the books! So many opportunities to love and be loved! 🙂
The highlights:
-Wyldlife camp and follow up: For the past two years, I’ve been involved in the Younglife ministry for middle school kids called Wyldlife. This was the first summer I got to go to camp with a group of kids, and God just blew my expectations out of the water! We spend a whole week having fun, loving, getting messy, laughing, crying, singing, dancing, swimming, zip lining, praying, talking, and being REAL together. THEN we came home and got to do life and dive a little deeper into a relationship with Jesus together here, after the camp high. I can’t tell you how much this week, this time with God, this time with His children, meant to me and filled my heart with so much joy. If you are in Carrollton, and you’re not involved in this ministry, you are missing out. For real. Middle schoolers are the best. They are goofy and awkward and hilarious and so ready to love and be loved by someone who cares.
– Family Time & Mini Vacations: Being off for the summer is always great because it opens up more time to get together with those you love. I’ve been able to spend more time with all my family that lives close to me and we have even been able to have some mini vacations! In June, my dad, stepmom, brother, sister, sister in law, niece, brother in law, and my aunt all went to Schlitterbahn water park for two days and had a blast! The slides and wave pool and rides were fun, but sometimes its just the simple moments waiting in line together being silly that are the best. Later in July, I went with my brother and his wife to Houston and Galveston for a baseball tournament he was coaching, and we had such a great time being spontaneous and making memories! I’ve learned more recently just how important family is. It’s not always easy, and it can get messy, but I wouldn’t trade my family for the world. I cling to the moments we have together because I know there is so many I will miss while I’m gone, and I know how much I will miss them.
– Nannying: When I’m not with family or friends, traveling, going to camp, or moving, I’ve been a nanny this summer for a wonderful family! I was blessed to have both their girls as my students at different points in time, and we have been having a really good time this summer, too.
– Another cool thing God has been doing this summer is just showing me all the relationships He’s put in my life. A lot of my time just goes to meeting up with friends, former students, and families, sharing meals or Starbucks, and catching up. I feel so lucky and blessed to have so many people in my life that I can have deep, meaningful relationships with. I’m very relationally-driven, so these times fill me up. 🙂
5. What God & I have been talking about lately
There’s a group of about 9 middle school girls who I’ve been doing a bible study with since February. We have been using a book called Seamless, and it basically has taken us through the entire bible from Genesis through the letters of the NewTestament, connecting all the dots and highlighting the important events, explaining how they fit together, how the Bible is kind of laid out, and always pointing back to the heart of God. This bible study had been so rewarding and fruitful for All of us. Recently, we were all together at one of the girls’ home, and God showed me how not only did He use this bible study in the ways I was hoping, but He went above and beyond to give me something I didn’t know I needed. (Again, why is He so freaking good to us?!)
I’m going to elaborate on this in a second, but I want you to stay with me here. You’ve already made it a really long way. Gold star for you! LOL Okay, but seriously, I’ve been hearing the word “faith” over and over lately. By definition, faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. The Bible talks about faith over and over and over again.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ , not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Jesus Christ so that we might be right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be right with God by obeying the law.” Galatians 2:15-16
There’s countless verses I could write which highlight the importance of faith and believing in Jesus. Jesus spends a lot of His time here on earth telling people to BELIEVE, just BELIEVE that He is who He says He is! It’s all about faith. Sometimes this is the hardest part for us. To REALLY believe and trust in God even when we can’t see what He is doing or knowing EVERYTHING about Him.
But the coolest thing is, and what He showed me, was that He gave me faith. I thought of how when I first became a believer and decided to live that out, I knew very little about the Bible and Christianity in general. I knew some of the highlights, I knew He was real, and I knew He wanted me to live for Him, but I didn’t have a strong theology and I had a very limited understanding of the Bible itself. I guess looking back, it almost seemed illogical to call myself a Christian without even knowing very much about the Bible, the book which the Christian faith is built on. I remember talking to a friend about Jesus, not knowing the answers to all her questions, and her making a comment that was something like, “I feel like I should read the whole Bible before I decided to be a Christian.” I also remember talking to the same friend, who happened to be Jewish, and sharing with her that I had learned that Jesus was Jewish and God’s people were the Jews in the Old Testament, then Christianity came later. I didn’t know a lot of the history and facts that some would say I should have known or been expected to know before committing my life to this Jesus person. Even starting this bible study, I didn’t really know what I was doing, I just said yes to Him and trusted He would come through. I was a little nervous, not gonna lie.
BUT GOD! He gave me faith, a confidence to believe in Him, even when I didn’t understand and didn’t know all the details, the stories, the scriptures. I just knew I believed in Him. Now, while this is so freaking cool, I’ve still struggled to be confident because I didn’t know the Bible as well as others (and I still don’t, but He’s been teaching me). It’s always been a little area where the enemy likes to whisper that I’m not equipped and cause me to compare myself to others.
Still with me? Good. All that being said, God knew that I would be leaving for the race, He knew this would be the right bible study with my girls, and He knew that I needed this study just as much as them, especially before I left. He knew it would give me answers I didn’t know I was looking for. He knew it would give me that little bit of confidence (that He wanted me to be) because He is a good Dad, and He loves me. He already knew it all. This is the God I believe in and love. He is trustworthy and will make it all come together when we step out in faith and obedience. He’s faithful.
6. Closing
I know that was a lot, and I don’t expect many people to have read this far, but if you did, you are my favorite. 😉 Haha, but really, thanks for caring and for your time. I just want to ask you now to please pray for:
-my squad and I as we prepare…and for our time at training camp this month.
– fundraising for all my squad members
-my family and friends who I’ll be away from soon. This is going to be hard on all of us.
– healing for my ankle which I sprained last week (that God has already been speedily healing)
– the people and countries we will be going to
THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU! Jesus loves YOU and so do I. 🙂 xoxo
