“…All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.”
~ John F. Kennedy, Inagural Address, January 20th, 1961.
~ John F. Kennedy, Inagural Address, January 20th, 1961.
This week has been great for me! I just finished student teaching so now I have a lot of free time on my hands (and I am using it to get ready for the World Race!) As I am thinking about October, the following comes to mind:
Support Raising: I sent out some support letters to some professors on campus and am in the process of sending more out to friends, family, coaches, and church congregations. I do not let the financial numbers get me down. I am doing my best to 1) save! 2) work hard and take job opportunities whenever I can, and 3) pray more about it. If I was not getting ready for the World Race, I would be forced to find a job. I do not know what is more difficult at this time: finding a job or raising ~$14k in support. Either way, God’s will is being done and I am choosing to trust! I can’t waste my time worrying.
Expectations: I talked for a bit tonight with my youth group about my trip and some expectations. Yes, I am a homebody that enjoys having things orderly, planned, and in my control to an extent. Yes, that will all be rocked and turned upside down in a few months. Tammie, my great friend and the youth leader, related my travels to the pizza’s we made tonight. A few pizza’s had pretzels, candy, and other unorthodox pizza toppings. My time abroad will have me with people who wear odd clothing, practice odd cultures, speak odd languages, and possibly worship odd gods. I have to taste these cultures, not literally, but I have to get acquainted with people outside of my normal circle. I am, however, in love with talking to strangers and I have no shame talking aimlessly to anyone about anything! It will just take me some time, here and there, to adjust. I may hate some things at first, but I grow to love things 10, 30, and 100 fold 🙂 .
Prayers: Please pray for my support systems (family, home church -> New Life Glenside and the youth group) and my network of friends. Let me stay in touch with everyone over the summer and stay accountable, to them and to each of you (visitor to my blog or October 09 team member!) Please pray for my spirits: I have been up and down lately, from school stress, recovering from a breakup in a relationship, and facing some spiritual questions. I have found courage in 1 Corinthians 15, Erwin McManus’s podcast titled “Blessed are those who mourn” (google it, its awesome!), and Mike Hindes’s sermon about Change and Loyalty (http://bearspace.baylor.edu/David_Taylor/paschall/20
09-03-01_Mike_Hindes.mp3 , right click, save) Please also remember my daily struggles with lust, contentment, and guilt.
The Trip and Me: I feel if I am just myself and have a bunch of great support around (I see it already, you guys and girls rock!) I will be able to be transformed. Take note to the first picture above. A bunch of manly men carrying an oversized log on a wheel barrel. The clown in the middle is me. Anywho, that log was part of much bigger fire that we built that week. Take note again to the JFK quote. I find hope in that and the testimony of Abraham in Genesis. I know that my journey will not be completed fully in 11 months, nor will the fruits in my life and others from the trip be possibly visible in that time period either. But let me and you begin and continue. I know that my journey is part of one big fire, burning for God and illuminating his light to a fallen world. I need support, both on the trip and from my peeps at home, i can’t do this alone. I need to be reinforced positively and guided with love. I need to remind myself that everyone is supporting me in love (I struggle time to time with that.) I need to be aware of the seasons around me, be conscious of other’s struggles, pasts, and needs. I want to build a big fire with you all and be washed over by it’s energy, it’s radiating warmth, it’s glory.
