Posted in General Posts by Cassidy Marcinko on 5/2/2012
60 days until approximate departure!!
Its time to start counting down. I sold my car, getting ready to quit jobs, saving continuously, getting shots, chatting with my team daily its unusual, praying, ITS REALLY HAPPENING! Every day I am overcome with emotions of excitement, overwhelming, stressed, and excitement all over again. Trainging Camp is only 2 short weeks when I will meet my future family for the year. I also have NO IDEA what to expect at training camp. Or how to pack my backpack for an entire year!! Ah!! I am still in need of a few things for the trip and I have compiled a "wish list" through REI.com. You simply go to REI.com and click the "wish list" tab at the top of the page. You will then be asked to entire my first and last name and you are able to see what I have put on there.
I appreciate the infinte amount of support everyone has given me. It is truly mind blowing and a sign from God that this is what I am to be doing. Even though I may have second thoughts every day. Mainly second thoughts about missing family, friends, and loved ones at home. Anything could happen while I am gone and I would hate to miss something important. Love you all! Thank you once again!
Blessings,
Cassidy
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Posted in General Posts by Cassidy Marcinko on 4/13/2012
Hey all!!
Thought I would send out an update:
Fundraising is going exceptionally well. Greater that I could have ever planned. I am almost fully funded for the whole year!
However I am extremly overwhelmed with the amount of purchases I still need to make, personally, before we leave. This includes gear, travel insurance, shots, travel to training camp and launching, etc. I am working a steady two jobs at the moment and saving as much as possible. I am trying to pay for as much as possible on my own before we leave since everyone has been so generous with donations (plus I like to feel like I'm taking care of MYSELF and not burdening others). As I was crunching numbers, I realized I would be cutting it extremly close with expenses leading up to launch and not being able so save as much for my year of travel. I became all sorts of overwhelmed and emotional thinking "ITS NEVER GOING TO WORK OUT!" or "IM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO!"
But then I realized I need to let GOD take care of me. I am just asking for some prayer for emotional reasons as I'm feeling a bit discouraged. But I felt like getting up and walking away from the computer/caculator and leaving it in the dark for a few hours and let God shine through that dark. So I got up and shut my laptop......
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Posted in General Posts by Cassidy Marcinko on 2/25/2012
Hate to admit, but I am a materialistic girl living in a materialistic world. I love fashion, clothes, music, shoes, purses, make up, jewlery, events (particularly Pittsburgh sporting events) and THINGS like many others living in America today. Before I entered the race (and honestly up until about the new year) I was still on my track of buying the newest and most "in style" jeans and top with some accessories to go with. Why not throw in some starbucks to go with that shopping trip?
Now how does a girl like this think she can spend a year in a backpack? I never considered myself a "girly girl" until I realized that I would be cofined to these limitations that frankly were a bit intimidating. These thoughts scared me. Would I be able to stop buying things that I dont need, but want? or look good? On my most recent trip to mall, I found myself leaving shortly after arriving, only having visited one store, leaving with the feeling of guilt. I felt guilty for spending money on things with so little importance compared to the magnitude of needs that will be addressed in the upcoming year while on this world race. Something in me had said "why are you even here?" And left without buying a thing.
I was afraid these sort of changes wouldnt come, and I would be "that girl" on the race; girly, materialistic, and here for the wrong reasons. But this only goes to show what God is preparing me for. And..I CAN'T WAIT! Bring is on Jesus!
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Posted in General Posts by Cassidy Marcinko on 1/30/2012
I am not the most emotional person. However, as I checked my account balance this evening, tears of joy ran down my face. The donations that have come in within the last week have been enormous and plentiful, to say the least. I was becoming very stressed out with my account balance after sending out my letters and not receiving much feedback. God if faithfull! I am now more than half way to my $15,000 goal! Amazing. I can not even begin to think of how I will be able to show enough thanks to all of you.
Sidenote: I had a silly dream that we left on the trip and I forgot my camera. Now how would I be able to share my experiences first hand with those of you back in the US without pictures updates? What a tradgic thought!
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Posted in General Posts by Cassidy Marcinko on 12/27/2011
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!
With the New Year approaching it is incompatible to imagine not knowing where I will be celebrating Christmas next year, with a brand new amazing World Race Family.
I have been very discouraged with work and the financial situation I am currently in. But with leaving in 6 months it is hard to be a "picky" person when it comes to employment and saving money.
Support Letters will be going out this week and I am nervous about family and friends decisions to support. But I suppose this is half of the battle is trusting that He will provide. After the letters are sent out and a couple weeks go by I will update on how fundraising is going. Thank you all for your prayers and support, this will be the oppertunity of a lifetime!!!
Cass
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Posted in General Posts by Cassidy Marcinko on 11/15/2011
hello all!
I am new to the blogging world. But I suppose I will become very farmiliar with it over the next year and a half.
I should give some information abut the journey I will be embarking on. In July, my team and I will be traveling to 11 countries including; India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Latvia, & Lithuania to serve the Lord and bring more to Christ. This trip should last approximatly 11 months. You can also visit www.worldrace.org for additional information or contact me for questions!
To support me, please click the Support Me! link on the left hand side of this page. Plese pray and give as the Lord leads you!
Blessings!
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