Hello everyone!
I cannot believe that it is already 3 weeks into August… like… that’s crazy! There is less than 5 months before I leave for the World Race… WHAT?!
First thing real quick, I have created a Facebook group where I will be posting shorter, more frequent updates. If you would like to be a part of it, let me know and I will make sure to invite you so you don’t have to wait for these bigger, less frequent posts to hear from me.
In this post I wanted to share some goals, updates, prayer requests and something I have been processing.
GOALS
My first big financial goal is coming up on the horizon! On September 25th I will need to have raised $5,000. As of this moment we are sitting at $1,400, which is incredible! I am blown away by the support I have been getting from everyone and it has been such an encouragement.
UPDATES
Over the few weeks a few things have been happening behind the scenes:
I ordered my prayer cards! If you have not received a prayer card yet, reach out to me and I will make sure I get you one! That way you can stick my face on your fridge, at your cubicle, in your wallet or where ever your hearts desires. Also, you can have as many as you want! Just let me know!
I have mailed out over 100 support letters. If you haven’t received one and would like one to hear a bit of my story, again just let me know!
I have finished almost all of the vaccines I chose to get for the World Race. I have one more appointment on August 21st for rabies round 3 and round 2 of a couple others. GUYS, on my first vaccine appointment last month, I got 7 shots at one appointment! Needles don’t bother me so this is more of a weird flex rather than me overcoming a fear or something.
Training Camp is coming up in October in Georgia (state not country)! This is where I will meet my squad for the first time and find out who is in my first team. A Squad is everyone who is going on the same route together (I’m on the expedition route therefore the Expedition squad is who I’m going with). From the squad we are broken down into teams of 6-8 people and teams will change every 3 to 4 months. At training camp we will be building unity, going through different scenarios/tests with our gear and a fitness test.
Before Training Camp in October, I will be attending the World Race Storytelling Workshop. Here we will learn how to write, film or photograph at a higher quality while on the World Race. I am really excited to be a part of this!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Here’s how you can support me in prayer!
-Continued prayer that I stay diligent with everything that I need to complete for the race, especially the items for camp since that is coming up quickly in October.
-That I meet my financial goal of $5,000 before September 25th.
-I am currently torn between chancing on getting my US citizenship before leaving the country (time is the question) or going the safer route of just applying for a green card re-entry for when I come back. Please help me pray for discernment on this. I have to do one of these no matter what. I do have a phone call coming up with the US Immigration office to get their advice.
-Please pray for my squad members. There as been a lot of physical and spiritual attacks on them.
THOUGHTS/ENCOURAGEMENT
Here’s something God has been helping me process kinda recently and I just wanted to encourage you in it as it has been an encouragement to me.
For the last 4 years I have had the immense honor to serve and intern at River Valley Church. While there I had the opportunity to meet and serve alongside some incredible people from all stages of life. Which meant I also saw countless men and women on fire for God and I got a front row seat to seeing them discover and develop on their purpose. All the while, I felt like I was just… there. Serving, day in and out, moving around, completely in the fog as to what my next step was. When God told me to step out and go on the World Race, that was the first time in almost 4 years that I had gotten my next big step from God.
Looking back now I can see what God was doing every single one of those years. He was taking what was a broken, restless, insecure, self-loathing girl and healing her, giving her stability, building her confidence and showing her the way HE sees her.
I could not go on the World Race if it wasn’t for those 4 years.
Wherever you are today, don’t stress about the next step. Remember what the last thing was that God told you to do and honor it with your time and energy. Right now you may not be able to see what this current season is for and what God is teaching you but you will see further down the line. If you recognize that you have gone off track, don’t stress about. Realign yourself again, submit to God and He will redeem the time you spend on the wrong path.
Thank you for your time, love and support everyone.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment down below or reach out to me!
Til the next post,
Jackie
