Update on Support (#1)

     I am please to announce that my mother and I are almost 50% funded! Thank you to all of you who already gave. We really appreciate your support.

   
     In an effort to more easily track what support we have received I have set up an Excel document. I am not particularly adept at Excel, but pride myself in the fact that I have figured out how to keep a running total of how much we have received. I also have a bar graph that automatically grows when I enter figures.

     Finances aside, your prayers are appreciated more than the money. Last summer I got to taste a little bit of the power of prayer. Your prayers will give us protection, strength, and help the trip to run smoothly. Thank you so much!

Trying to Succeed

Over the years many great authors and other prestigious members of the human race have attempted to describe success. Emily Dickinson claims that, “Success is counted sweetest by those who never succeeded.” By this she means that those who have succeeded do not value success as much as those who have never attained their goal. “Do or do not, there is no try,” is an oft-quoted line from Star Wars: Episode V. In some ways Master Yoda is correct; either one succeeds or he fails, however his logic does not hold completely true. Theodore Roosevelt points out the fallacy of Master Yoda’s words in his speech “Citizenship in a Republic.” The efforts of attempting a pursuit are extremely valuable.

 Roosevelt’s famous speech is often referred to as “The Man in the Arena” because one of the passages describes a gladiator fighting in front of an arena full of spectators. He begins by saying that those standing on the sidelines, watching, should get no share in the glory. While they observe they laugh at the mistakes that are made and scoff at the successes, saying, “I could have done better.” They claim to be better than the strongest man when he fails, even though they are weak and have never accomplished such feats. They have no right to criticize the competitors because they have never fought in the arena and do not know what it is like. Scared of failing, they have never tried. 

The man they are mocking does not look like he is successful, even though he is in the arena making an attempt at victory. He is bruised and battered and his clothes are stained with blood, sweat, and dirt. Yet, there is something that sets him apart from his fellow competitors, who have tried and failed. After each failure he gets up and tries again. He knows something that those before him who have failed and lost heart do not. Success is rarely ever gained on the first try and ‘there is no effort without error.’ In order to succeed an effort must first be made. The man in the arena has devoted himself to trying. Each time he falls he picks himself back up again, ready to go another round, while the spectators merely watch and goad him on as if they know better than him.

Every time the man makes an error and comes back he betters himself. He learns from his mistakes. These two things are essential to why he is able to rise above his peers. After being knocked down he does not stay down. Also he does not try the same strategy each time, as if repetition would be the deciding factor. If his opponent cuts through a weak point in his defense he makes sure to shield himself better. In order to succeed one must first try.

This technique should be applied to all areas of life. Even if the first attempt is unsuccessful much value can be gained by attempting again. However, to try one must be willing to take the first step. It can be intimidating to stand up from a comfortable seat in the stands and descend into the arena. The future is not always planned out. This often immobilizes those who have the potential to succeed, but after taking the first step they find that the pathway ahead becomes clearer. Each step makes the way forward seem more obvious. That first step is essential in order to first try and to later succeed. Life does not always go as planned, but no matter what happens the man in the arena sets an example by continuing to take steps forward and try to succeed.

Raising Support

     This summer I have the amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip with my mother and a team from our church. We will be going to the Czech Republic. Last year I went out of the country for the first time on another mission trip to the country of Moldova. I am super excited to be going back into the short-term mission field!

     Our team this year will be putting on a family-fun English camp with a local church in the Czech Republic. However, in order to do this we need to raise money. $2,500 each to be exact. For some people raising money to go on missions trips involves various fundraising activities such as pledge drives, selling T-shirts or cookies, and setting up GoFundMe accounts. For us this entails sending out letters, letting our friends and family know about this venture and asking them to help and lend their support.

     Before you can send a support letter you must first write a support letter. The support letter usually includes a short synopsis about what is going on in your life, where you are going, what you will be doing there, how to give money, and other details about the trip. Once you have written and revised your support letter you can print it off and begin stuffing envelopes.

     Stuffing envelopes is a tedious task that takes a lot of time (how's that for alliteration?). It is best done with someone to help you.

Here is my wonderful mother, helping me stuff envelopes.

     The envelopes have to be addressed before you can put your letters in them (technically you could address them after filling them, but it is much easier to write on an empty envelope than a filled one). I would recommend purchasing envelopes that you do not have to lick to seal. They may cost more, but will be well worth it in the time, energy, and taste buds you save. Along with our support letters we included a prayer card, support form, and return envelope.

     As you can see, writing and sending support letters can be a long and tiring process. However, it is well worth it!

     I would like to thank all the people who have committed to support us financially, but especially in prayer. By giving up your time and resources you have become part of this endeavor and because of your generosity the gospel is being spread.

     I will be posting updates on support, as well as the trip itself (hopefully), so stay tuned for more information!

My Last Semester Resolution

     As graduation gets nearer I have been looking back on the last four years of my high school experience. I have a great class. I truly do. Second day of school my freshman year I sat in my Physical Science class (2nd hour) and told myself, “This is a great class.” And they are! But they are human and have their faults. So do I.

     Just the other day I realized how little I know most of my classmates (I found out the other day that one of my friends had been an extra in a movie when she was younger). I mean, I am really close with a handful of them, but there are some that I have not held a single conversation with. I have gone to school with these people for four years and there are only 33 people in my class. I don’t have an excuse for this.

     It also struck me how little some of my classmates know each other. Keep in mind that my school is a K - 12 establishment, so some of my fellow students have been seeing each other on a daily basis for almost all of their lives. It seems like they are more content to stay where they feel comfortable, in their clique of close acquaintances, than to get to know someone they don’t have as much in common with. In their attempts to be social they isolate themselves from people’s lives that they could make a difference in. Don’t get the wrong picture here: they all get along and I am proud to be in the same class with them.

     Also, there is something you should know about me. When I critique something, often my comments are an equal reflection of myself. I am not perfect. I have failed to get to know my classmates. I have failed to cultivate friendships with all of them and minister to them. I wish we had another year together so I could have a second chance. As it is, we only have half a semester left as a class, but I plan to make the most of it.