Hello everyone!! It’s Ellie! I thought it would be time for some updates on the beginning stages of my World Race journey! As August gets closer, I’m getting more and more excited for what God has in store for me in the next 9 months. Though looking forward to the future, I’ve also been trying to stay in the present so I can appreciate and enjoy what blessings God has given me in this waiting season!
On the fundraising side of things, I have been incredibly blessed with so much support and love from my church community, friends, and family both financially and through prayer. It’s safe to say that when I am gone, I will have a huge team praying for me as I go on this next adventure. I am nearly 70% funded and am so grateful to have come this far. A huge thank you for everyone who has donated, I really appreciate your generosity and kindness! Another huge thank you to all those who are praying for me! I am so grateful for your love, kindness, and support! You are all playing a huge role in the expansion of God’s kingdom and the spread of his love! Going forward, I am still looking into and planning more fundraising opportunities so stay tuned for some information!
Other than fundraising, I’ve had many tasks to complete prior to training (which starts August 29th) which include getting a plane ticket to Atlanta, gathering gear, and grasping the idea of packing light… that one has been a challenge for sure! Personally, the hardest thing this summer has been the overwhelming feelings when it comes to being away from friends and family for a whole 9 months! This has prompted me to spend more quality time with my loved ones this summer, which has been a blast so far! If it’s catching up at a coffee shop, sitting by the lake, or spending a day with my family, my time has been well spent.
Aside from World Race preparations, I’ve had a busy few months. Some big things recently include graduating high school, experiencing my last band and choir concerts, lots of grad parties, and some travel opportunities! Grad season came with lots of fun and new opportunities, one being speaking at commencement. In addition, I had many senior nights for music activities as well as for tennis (tears were indeed shed). Right after graduation, I went on my senior trip with one of my good friends and her parents. We traveled to Paris, London, Edinburgh, and traveled through Scotland for a little over two weeks which was an amazing experience! I learned a lot about international travel which definitely is going to come in handy for The Race!
Since getting back from my Europe trip, I have tried to tackle one of my faith goals: reading my bible every day. During school, I was involved with numerous different activities. I constantly overbooked myself, which is something I still struggle with. I did not make reading my bible a priority and I struggled to stay accountable. I decided to make a change this summer and now I’m doing a Psalm a day! I have loved it so far and it has been a great way to get back into the word.
Overall, this summer and prepping season has been filled with so much joy and growth, I am excited to see what God has in store for the rest of the summer and beyond!
Hope you all have a blessed day, thank you for taking the time to read about my updates!
Ellie
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