Over the past month, I have moved from the place I called home for the last 5 years, turned in my notice at my job where I have spent the past 10 years, and soon I will be saying goodbye to my #shortbrownfella (my dog, Shadow) that I have had for 16 years. To say my life has (and will continue to change) in 2022 is an understatement.
I have always been resistant to change. Growing up I lived in the same house for my entire life until I moved to college, so big change wasn’t something I was used to. As an adult I have had to learn to embrace change and I do not always handle it gracefully.
This is the first time in my life that I am CHOOSING change. This is not a circumstantial change that was brought on by the ebb and flow of life, or forced upon me by others; this was an intentional, prayerful change that feels like the next right thing for this chapter of my life.
Am I scared? Absolutely. Does what I am going to do on the trip and when I get back keep me up at night? You bet-cha. But I do not want to get to the end of my life and regret not taking this chance of a lifetime. So I will set down my worries, my fears and the never ending what-if train that has a full track in my head, and I will press forward into the unknown (Frozen II anyone?!). This time I am embracing the change and leaning into it, instead of running from it.
The biggest change so far is the humbling process of going from a corporate income to having to raise funds to support this new endeavor. I have never felt comfortable asking for help. I was raised to be independent and to do things on my own, so God is forcibly teaching me in the process that I cannot do this life alone.
When I first spoke with the World Race staff, they said that fundraising might be the hardest challenge pre-race (I’m thinking fitting everything I own inside of a backpack might be a close second). This process of raising funds is the first step to abandoning my current means and lifestyle. It is also teaching me to rely on God to provide as He promises in 2 Corinthians 9:8 [& God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others].
I have a fundraising goal of $18,700 which will cover my food, board, travel expenses, and medical insurance for the full eleven months of my trip. I will be traveling to Guatemala, Romania, Jordan, and Thailand to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people. I have to be fully funded by November, but also have deadlines of various amounts starting in May (they begin booking things long before we launch in August). If you would like to be a part of this journey and trust God will use you just as much as me on this trip, consider clicking on the donate button! But also, I ask that you pray for me as I learn to embrace the change and step out in faith on this journey.
I have already been truly blessed by the people who have given so far. People have not only given money, but also prayers, encouragement and support. A lot of them have said they are going to give so they can vicariously live through this experience. I am honored to be the one to go and I will certainly keep you all updated and will report back with how your dollars have impacted the world! I understand not everyone will be able to give financially but you can also help support me by praying or sharing my story with others. That is just as important (if not more). Reaching people for Christ starts right here in my own backyard as I build my support team.
They say the only constant in life is change, so cheers to change - big, small and inbetween! Here is to abandoning everything I know, my self sufficiency for the most part, and leaning into my community along this journey. I challenge you to embrace change alongside me. Use this as a chance to pray about what God is leading you to give (time, money, prayer, encouragement) and to possibly change your outlook and see this as an opportunity to reach way beyond me, but to touch the world with your donation.
