Hello Everyone!
My Summer has definitely begun. I have been looking forward to relaxing in the sun this whole school year…I guess I’d better keep looking, I’m even busier than before! Preparing for this trip has been the big thing. I couldn’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent looking at different packs, tents, sleeping rolls, compression bags, headlamps, mess kits, etc, and that’s after I get home from working in before mentioned hot summer sun all day. God has given me the wonderful opportunity to work with a contractor from my church part time, and I absolutely love it. On top of working and shopping/doing research for the Race, I have attended a wedding, graduation parties, I have my own graduation ceremony tomorrow(to which I am very grateful for my mother for putting everything together), prepping my home for my grandparents, aunt, and cousins for when they come for said graduation ceremony, as well as preparing the home for my graduation party on the 14th. Whew. So yes, summer is quickly becoming a busy thing. Why am I surprised. I also leave in a couple weeks for a 4 week sojourn to the Colorado Rockies to work with my grandparents and attend a Summit Ministries camp… after which I arrive home, and immediately leave for World Race training camp! Wooh!
In the midst of the busyness of my life, I find it can be really hard to keep my focus on the Lord and His plan. I get so caught up in the next activity, the next thing, that I simply forget. Over the past couple of weeks, the Lord has been showing me how much I struggle with finding time to open His word and talk with Him, and how much He wants that to change. Lately, I’ve been reading through the book of Ecclesiastes, in which Solomon strove to find pleasure in all that the world had: he was wealthy beyond belief, he threw extravagant parties, he married many women, he was the wisest man to ever live… and in the end he came to the conclusion that “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. This world has nothing to offer. Also in Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells his people to “remember also your creator, in the days of your youth”(12:1), for He is all that matters. Duh! Why do I forget? Why do I let my day run it’s course without first consulting the God of creation? Why do I get caught up in all this World Race planning when I haven’t taken the time to talk with my Father? In the end, without Him, it doesn’t matter what I would be doing on this trip! “Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘all is vanity!'” Nothing matters if it is not God.
So, I thought I’d give you all a quick glimpse into my life, and what the Lord is doing in it. I apologize for not having blogged sooner, as you can see, I’ve been busy! Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support, it means the world and is such an encouragement. I’m about $2000 shy of my June 21st deadline of $9000, and I’m so excited and confident to see how the Lord will provide!
Love you all and God bless!
Will
P.S. In the World Race, we do a thing called Squad Wars and there’s a series of challenges squads compete in. The first was a video challenge, simply introducing ourselves. Enjoy(:
