The Kingdom Experience

As a youth director, I often notice that whatever I am speaking on becomes a deep part of my life.  Currently, my eyes are being reopened to Kingdom living as we study the Beatitudes.  It's not about me as an individual, but about us as the body of Christ.  

One of my favorite quotes about the Kingdom comes from Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries

I love this quote because it is a reminder that the Kingdom is all around us.  Every moment is holy, if we'll be aware of God's work in it.

Anyways, all of this "Kingdom Living" has reminded me of why I am running for Team world vision again in the first place.  It's to bring water and health to the world, to change lives, and to see God at work.  Currently, I am seeing God work in my life through this.

There is a 13 year old girl from our church that wants to run for Team World Vision.  She reminds me a lot of myself when I was 13.  She started training and working hard for this goal, but needs someone to join her.  After much prayer and talking with her and her mom, I got really excited about joining her on her journey and being with her as she finishes her first half marathon.  Because of that, I have decided that I am not going to run the full marathon this year.  Instead, I'm going to be a part of this Kingdom experience and run with her, finish with her, rejoice with her.  I'm really excited about this!

I know this was my year to "make up for last year" but again...It's not about me.  It's about the Kingdom.  And running with this girl is going to mean so much more to the Kingdom than my training alone would.  Together, we are setting out to raise awareness for those who do not have clean water.  We are running to raise money through Team World Vision to bring clean water and sustainable water resources to the world, especially to Africa where the other half of my heart is.  It's not about me, it's about the Kingdom.

Run for water, run for life.  Run for joy, run for Jesus!  This isn't about me, but it's about something greater, and I am excited to see God at work!

Thank you to all of those who have donated to Team World Vision.  $50 gives a child clean water for life.  It doesn't stop there.  It also allows them to go back to school instead of walking 3-7 miles a day to get water that is dirty.  It gives them health, as they are able to drink, eat, and wash with clean water.  It is sustainable, so it will be there for their families and future families.  It's a part of the Kingdom experience.  One little donation goes a long way and saves more lives than we will ever know.  If you would like to make a donation please go to 

http://www.teamworldvision.org/participant/carlypowne

Thank you!

Carly

Something bigger

This time of year I am reminded of a journey I set out on 3 years ago.  In a giant step of faith, I left my job in the hands of people who cared, left my family, left my home, and went to Uganda to follow God's call.  So many incredible things happened on that trip and around that trip, but one little conversation has rung in my ears forever.
To help send me, my good friends and "hot mamas" put on a fundraiser to support the trip.  At the end of the night we had raised $1233.51. You can read about that night here.  As I stood in shock, one of my friends said "we can't go.  You can go.  This is our way of being a part of something bigger."  That phrase stuck with me.  "We can't go, but you can go."
Not everyone can run a marathon.  Not everyone can even train for a marathon.  So with them in my heart I will run for all of us.  The marathon is such a small piece.  The something bigger is why I run.
I went for a run Monday night through my favorite park.  As I ran, lightning bugs lit up the path.  I realized that the last walk my dad took was in that park.  My parents had just flown in to town and I convinced them to go for a walk with me so that I could try out my new shoes.  As we walked we talked about the work we were going to do on the cabin, and about the vacation planned around it.  That was a Tuesday.  On Thursday we were up at the lake when my dad fell off a ladder.  He broke his leg in 4 places and hasn't been able to walk since.  Our story is a story of hope, he hopefully has one more surgery and will be walking again in a few months, but our reality is also that he has been in a chair now for 2 months this week.  As I run, I run for him.  I think about the time we ran our first 10k together and I couldn't keep up with "the old man in front of me."  But I was out there.
I may be slower than a herd of turtles trampling through peanut butter, but I'm out there.  I'm running for my dad who can't run, but I'm sure will beat me when he can again.  I'm running for the kids who don't get to run because they are sick from drinking bad water.  I'm running because I have the ability, and God has called me to use it for something greater.
It's a journey of faith.  I've made the goal to raise $3,000 for Team world vision.  That will bring a lifetime of water to 60 children.  Imagine how the generations behind them will be changed by this clean water.  It's not just for a day, it's clean water for life, for them, their families, and their future families.
I have raised $1012 so far.  Will you give up a cup of coffee today and use that $5 to bring someone clean water?
Thank you for joining me on this journey and being a part of something bigger!

Training in Texas

Training in Texas is TOUGH!
I've been learning this week all about hydration.  And did you know that you're supposed to take salt supplements when running here?  Running in Texas is crazy!
I've been listening to the suggestions about what to eat, what to drink, and how to fuel on a run, and I'll tell you, it's making a big difference!
Today I had my 5 mile run.  Now, let me tell you, I am not ready for 5 miles!  I know I should be getting ready for 10 miles this weekend, but I am just now hitting my stride and finding the joy in running again.  I am slower than a herd of turtles tromping through peanut butter, but I'm out there! And, with each run, my time is getting better and better.  Today I shaved almost a minute/mile off my run time.  With times like these, I'll have no problem crossing the marathon finish line this year!
Now I just have to keep going and build up the endurance.
I've got my joy back, I'm learning how to fuel for these, and I'm enjoying the process once again!

Today I was working on a few projects for our "summer share" event that we had tonight.  Because I was trying to get so much done, the only block of time that I had to run was at noon.  So I laced up, ran a few errands, and headed to the park.
There was this one curve that every time I passed it I was reminded of the woman at the well.  I think it was something about the heat of the day, no shade, and how no one was in that area.  I began to think about that woman and how she was shunned from society to where the only time she could get water was in the heat of the day.  That must have been miserable.  Then I began thinking about how many girls can't go to school because they have to trek to dangerous areas in the heat of the day to get water for their families.  I take so much for granted.
I've felt hated before, but I've never been shunned.  I've never had to trek in the heat of the day anywhere, I've always had a car, public transportation, or a friend to help out.  I've never had to fetch my own water.  Even when we went backpacking, I had others to help.
Then, as I was having these thoughts, I passed a dry creek bed.  I thought about how people pray for rain just so that they could have water fill up a creek bed and they could have something to drink.  I noticed the signs for flash flooding, and realized that I have a safe way out, but people fetching water don't.  I also crossed an area of standing water that looked disgusting, but was water.  If I were desperate, would I drink it?  Probably.  Others do it every day.  There are so many dangerous situations that they are going through, be it terrain or disease.  Hydration?  They don't have nuun.  They don't have shot blocks.  They have a job to do, and they do it.  I have no idea of what they go through.  I've seen it, but I've never fully experienced it.

When in Uganda, we would take our morning walk and often times see people come out of the brush from a nearby pond with jerry cans of water.  Children were carrying the cans, sometimes on bikes, sometimes on their heads.  Even then, I watched, but I went back to a well.

I need to do something.  I want to help.

All of these thoughts made me push harder and keep going.  I'm not running for myself.  Yes, it feels good making better time than last year, but it's never been about me.  I'm running so that these people don't have to miss school and hike in the heat of the day.  I'm running to bring life to individuals, to families, to communities.

I'm running for water and running for life.

I've made a crazy goal this year to raise $3,000 for World vision.  My team goal is $26,100.  If $50 brings sustainable water resources to one child for life, imagine the impact we are making!  I have the chance to raise money to save 60 lives.  Our team can save 522 lives!  Can you imagine!  That's a whole village!  That's many villages!!!

Consider sponsoring me!  With each donation, I will write your name on my shirt and you will run with me.  Your donations are going to change the world and save a life!

Thank you for joining me on this journey!
http://www.teamworldvision.org/participant/carlypowne

 

Flood warning

 

Would you drink this?

  

Standing water

 

Ironically, this came on when I wanted to quit.  Nope!  We are far from over!

 

The Dry creek bed

Why?

6 years ago I lost my grandma to what we thought was Rheumatoid Arthritis.  My dad and my aunts also have RA, so when we lost my grandma, I decided that I wanted to do something to honor her life, and also somehow help my family who suffers from RA.  I ended up finding the "Jingle Bell Run" which raises money and awareness for the Arthritis foundation.  During this run I found a love for running, which I never thought I would have.  It ended up being the healthiest year of my adult life, and I lost 50 pounds and loved running!
I thought that love for running would stick around, and the weight would stay off.  But, as life happens, we know we don't always get what we want.  I ended up gaining my weight back, and although I still thought I was a runner, I had quit and not even noticed.
Last year I was challenged to join Team World Vision and participate in the Rock'n Roll marathon and half marathon.  My pride got the best of me, and because I had done a marathon before, I knew I could do it again.  So I trained.  I went running every day like I was supposed to, did most of the group runs (or at least the distances), but when it really came down to it, I wasn't really trying like I had hoped.  I had trained to walk uphill, and run downhill, which isn't always helpful.  I ended up with plantar fasciitis for the first time, but figured that was from the weight I had gained back.  Anyways, even though I thought what I was doing was enough, it turns out on race day that it wasn't.
Race day came, and I thought I was ready.  I was excited and nervous, but knew that I could finish the 26.2 miles, even if I walked more than I wanted to.  I had spent the night before looking up old times and comparing them to my current times, and all was good.  Or so I thought.
The morning of the race, everything went wrong.  I cramped.  I had to stop at the bathrooms every mile (even though I wasn't sick, I just couldn't hold my water!) and thing after thing set me back.  But I wasn't about to give up.  The moment of truth came when I hit the split mark, where marathon runners go straight, but half marathoners turn left.  Something didn't seem right, but I had been watching the clock, and although behind, I had just hit my stride and should have still been okay time wise.  But I wasn't.
The officials had closed the course just minutes before I got there, and I was rerouted to finish the half.  I was devastated (which is kind of frustrating because a half is still incredible and something to be VERY proud of!)  But I had set out to finish a marathon, and had donors who had supported that last mile.
I finished the race (in tears) and thought about what I was to do.  People had paid to see me finish, or so I thought.  So, I called home and got the greatest advice.  Go finish.  So I did.
I went to McAlister park and walked (at a nice, slow pace) 11.1 miles, until the sun went down.  Then I went to the gym to finish my final 2.  All in all, I went to bed having finished that 26.2 miles!
But what I learned is even greater.  The race isn't about me!  It's not about me crossing the finish line.  That's just pride!  The reason why I did this was to bring children in Africa clean water...and I did that!
So, I'm doing it again!  This is my redemption year!  But that part is just for me.
The real reason why I am running is because I believe that every person deserves clean water.  I'm running for water for children in Africa, and running for their life and my life (because I need to make some changes to my health.)  I'm very excited to begin this journey, but I am stepping out on faith.  There is a fear in me that I will not finish, but this time, that's okay, because it's not about me.  It's about the children, and I run for them.
Speaking of that...I'm running late, so I'll finish up later, but continue to follow me on this blog as I take you along my journey.

 Our Northern Hills Team on race day

At the "finish" after many tears.  I wasn't done yet!