Warning! This post is long because I haven’t written here in a while!
If you’ve been subscribed to the blog for a while, you have probably already noticed that I like lists. I inherited this from my mother! If you peek into her journals and planners, you’d see lists. To-do lists, shopping lists, prayer lists, food lists, bucket lists, gratitude lists, etc. Since I learned to write, I’ve made lists too. Most mornings I make a list about what I need to do for the day and also compare it to the larger list I’ve already written for the week or even for the month.
The older I get though and the longer I’ve been on my journey with Jesus, I’ve learned that lists are good, but you can’t live your life dependent on lists. Life happens. Good things, bad things, things you can’t control… When I graduated college in 2007, I had a list of things I wanted to do before 35. Fast forward and I’m almost to chapter 35 and there are still things on my list that never happened. On the other hand, there are things on the list that did happen but didn’t work out as planned, such as losing my first full-time job after college due to budget cuts, then it happening again a second time.
Last Friday, I left my job at a #1 hospital. As I was heading down the elevator leaving the building after handing in my ID, laptop, and paperwork, I had 2 emotions.
One, I wanted to yell, dance, and celebrate! LOL
Two, I also wanted to run back and say Wait! I’m not ready!
Needless to say, I made my way to the train and I made it home that day.
So, I’m writing this blog post here at the airport in Atlanta and I’m headed to Launch! I can’t believe it. God has been so faithful. Even as I say good-bye to family and friends, everyone has been so encouraging and supportive. Thank you all!
Now, here are 11 things I’ve learned about myself this year and some fundraising updates:
1. NYC is the greatest city in the world, but I would never voluntarily live there.
2. I’ve finally fallen in love with the small suburb north of NYC that I grew up in. I love the trails, the river, the trees, the easy access to buses, trains, planes that can take you down into NYC or anywhere in the world.
3. You don’t have to be afraid of homeless people. They are people too and they need help like all of us need help in one way or another. Sometimes just looking them in the eye and acknowledging them is enough, other times offering some change or a snack with a smile is good too.
4. The 9 to 5 grind in a NYC skyscraper office is not a grand as it sounds. It can become soul-crushing if you let it consume you. Also, it’s just not for everybody…
5. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m trusting that God will provide all He knows I need according to His riches in glory.
6. This whole World Race thing is not a vacation. I’m going to write a blog post one day on how the World Race Instagram photos don’t do it justice. I know on the Race, I will be at times hungry, tired, and craving the comforts of home, at the same time as I reach out to be the hands and feet of Jesus and feel amazingly blessed to be living the abundant life all over the world.
7. I didn’t think I would miss Kenna, my dog this much, but I miss her and it hasn’t even been 24 hours since I was with her!
8. When I started this journey, I was most fearful about the fundraising piece. It’s amazing that I’m now over 50% funded! God provided and He used people like strangers, former coworkers, classmates, and all of you my friends and family. Together we are a force for good!
9. I am now $8004.00 away from being fully funded!!!
10. I’ve been without cell service for 1 week already and I’m slowly detoxing from the modern 1st-world need to always be connected. It was good though to not have cell service while I met up with friends and family to say not goodbye, but “see you in 11 months.”
11. Today is World Race Launch (10/6/18). We will be in Atlanta for a few days before we head to our first country, the Philippines.
I would so appreciate if you have not donated already, please donate today. $1, $5, $25. No amount is too small!
How to donate going forward:
1. via blog using debit or credit card (tax-deductible) – DONATE button above
2. via check to AIM (tax-deductible) – see DONATE button above for address (put my name Sharon Mosley on memo line)
3. via Paypal (not tax-deductible) – https://paypal.me/sharonworldrace
4. via Venmo (not tax-deductible) – @SharonMos
5. Cash to my parents (this is for those of you who asked me if you could donate via cash – not tax-deductible)
6. For the month of October: via GoRings – at checkout choose my name (Sharon Mosley) and 30% will go towards my World Race fundraising total (www.Gorings.com)
7. Hike for a Cause on October 12th led by good friend and mentor – aka Uncle Mike – email unclemike7@hotmail.com for details if you are in the NY Hudson Valley area that day!
Communication on the field:
My number is the same, but please forgive me for not answering emails/texts/calls right away. I will get to them as time and as WiFi allows. If you have WhatsApp, even better!
I plan to blog once per week, so please subscribe so you get an email when I post!
Thanks for reading! My next blog post will be from the Philippines!
In courageous faith and for His glory alone,
Sharon
