A little World Race update::
I am on my way to Gainesville, Georgia to meet my World Race squad and go through all of our training! During training our team will complete a Storytelling workshop, learn specifically about all of the countries we will be serving in and how we will best serve each area, and get to know each of our squad members better!
A little about our squad:
We have been so blessed to have a wide range of ages, personalities, and people from all over the country. There are three people from KS (how cool is that?!!)
I have had the chance to meet 3 of my squad mates in person and talk to many others over the phone and on Facetime.
I have also had the privilege of meeting a WR alumni, Kristen, recently! She has been home for about a month now and was able to give me a lot of tips on anything from packing to advice on travel days. Even though she will not be on my squad she has already played such a big role in this journey.
It absolutely blows my mind that I have been talking to my squad for 6 months and that I am only hours from meeting them all. Each already has a special place in my heart and will play such an important role in this mission.
What I’ve been doing to prep for training:
I’ve never been a person to prepare for things very far in advance, especially for trips. Usually I procrastinate and wait until the very last minute to do anything which was not possible to be successful on a trip like this.
Emotionally and mentally- I have spent as much time as possible with my friends and family before camp. It’s easy to say goodbye for these 2 weeks but the next time won’t be as easy so we have all been preparing ourselves mentally for that goodbye. Alumni advice for this is to start getting used to it! Our goodbyes at home are going to be hard but we will making friends and connections in every country and at the end of every month we will be saying goodbye all over again and it won’t get any easier.
Physically- I have taken a few hikes with my backpacks to make sure that I am meeting the physical requirements that AIM creates for all of their racers! (Huge thanks to Angelica, Garrett, and my mom for going on the hikes with me!!) At camp we will have to complete a 2.2 mile hike in 38 minutes with our backpacks. Luckily, it has been raining in Georgia for the past week so the temperatures there are not as hot as normal.
Spiritually- I have surrounded myself with great Christian friends who are always there motivating me and supporting in this entire process. They go to church with me, attend small group, go to baseball games, and meet for bible studies. All of which continually remind me that while I do need to prepare for the Race that I also have to focus on my relationship with God and enjoy the time I still have at home. I have found great comfort reading the books of Esther, 1 Timothy, and 2 Timothy during these past few weeks. My favorite Bible verse right now going into training camp is Esther 4:14 “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.”
FUNraising:
Alot of my time has been spent towards fundraising over the past few months and God sure has blessed me in this area of the Race! I am currently about $1,000 away from my second goal of $10,000. If you feel called to donate, you can do that by just clicking on the donate button above! Every little bit counts if you are willing to make the commitment and partner with me on this mission.
Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far and those who will in the future. I would no be able to do this without each and every one of you.
As always thank you for all of the prayers for my team and I. We all greatly appreciate it.
Much love, Steph
