We found out our launch date and location last week: I’ll be leaving the U.S. on October 6th from L.A. to Guatemala. Most of my “B” Squad will be leaving on the 7th but the team leaders and finance people have to leave a day early to receive some additional training (I’m our team’s finance guy; which is actually an easier job than it sounds: just keeping track of receipts and watching how much we’re spending in each country). Fun fact for everyone to know: My Squad is the 2nd generation "B" Squad. As in, the World Race has already ran through the alphabet once with squads and we are now part of the 2nd generation of World Racers!
I just loaded my pack up yesterday to see how it would look and feel. I have most of the gear and supplies I’m going to need now. Tent, sleeping bag, mosquito net… first aid kit, contact solution, protein… Nalgenes, rain jacket, tevas… passport, insurance, malaria meds, The Good Book… and if there’s room… my soccer cleats?! Plane tickets booked, prayer groups forming, vaccinations still occurring on a weekly basis. It’s all coming together, it’s all feeling real.
This is a patch my Dad and his mother made together years ago. I told him it would mean a lot to me if I could put it on my pack for this trip. In memory of BGC and her adventurous heart she passed down in our family. Who could ever forget her…
It’s been hard to evaluate how things are going with me as October quickly approaches. Mainly just trying to spend as much time with friends and family as I can before I leave. It’s hard not to think about everything I’m going to miss while I’m gone. But I’m always comforted when I think about the reasons I’m going. More to come on this later… But in the end, the answer to WHY I'm going comes down to one ultimate truth: Because there IS someone worth losing everything for, isn’t there? Being a follower of Jesus requires radical abandonment of the "old self" and a willingness to be changed. And I've only started to learn what it means to surrender, and I haven't even left yet. But like I said, I'd like to spend a little more time reflecting on the "why" before I go any further.
I know this seemed like a very random blog, but I just wanted to update yall on how things are going. Thanks for all your support! 5 more weeks!
