The month of July has been full of amazing reminders and sweet moments to be grateful for! I kicked things off by heading to one of my favorite places on Earth—Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters (aka SWO). I’ve been a camper there since 6th grade, and over the years, the messages, worship, and small groups have played such a huge role in growing my relationship with the Lord. While I hope to come back someday as a summer staffer, this year marked my last summer as a camper—bittersweet doesn’t even begin to cover it.
In true SWO fashion, those five days were packed with chaos, joy, and a whole lot of Jesus. Somehow, in less than a week, I managed to:
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Break two pairs of flip-flops
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Win a plank competition
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Jam my finger
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Place second in a speedball tournament
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And spend way too much money at the snack shack
But honestly, all of that fades in comparison to how incredible the teaching, worship, and smallgroup time were. We dug into Romans 8, which is bursting with truth and encouragement. I won’t list every single note I scribbled down (trust me, it’s a lot), but here are a few key takeaways that have really stuck with me:
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Jesus has freed us from the penalty of sin, but we still have to fight the presence of sin—with the power of the Holy Spirit.
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We aren’t condemned by our shortcomings, but they remind us just how much we need saving.
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The truest thing about us is that we are saved.
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We can find hope in heaven and in knowing that it’s our inheritance.
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We are so deeply loved—beyond what we could ever fully understand.
It was such a special week, and I’m endlessly thankful for all the summers I’ve gotten to spend at SWO as a camper. What a gift it’s been.
Another highlight of July was easily visits from some of my favorite people! My sweet friends came to visit me in New York City, and I also got to visit some of my friends back in Savannah. My family just recently moved to NYC for my dad’s new job, and while it’s been such a cool adventure living in the city, it’s also been hard to leave behind the friendships I built in Georgia.
When my friends booked their flights to come see me, I was absolutely thrilled. Spending a few short days exploring the city together, laughing, eating good food, and making memories meant the world to me. And now, as I write this blog on my way to visit one of my best friends who lives in Maine during the summer, I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude. Having friendships that are worth traveling for—that have shaped and supported me over the years—is something I’ll never take for granted.
These are the people who walked with me through the highs and lows of high school, who have let me cry, celebrate, vent, or just talk their ears off whenever I needed it. Moving away could have felt like the end of those connections, but instead, it reminded me how strong and beautiful these friendships really are. Distance doesn’t define friendship—and I’m so grateful for that.
All in all, while July had its fair share of ups and downs (as most months do), it’s been so good to me. And now, it’s officially one month until we leave for our first stop on the World Race! I can hardly contain my excitement. Just a few days ago, I hit 50% of my fundraising goal—praise God! I’m praying daily over my team members, the remainder of my fundraising, and all the people we’ll get to meet and serve as we go out and be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Thanks for following along on this journey—I can’t wait to keep sharing more with you. Let the countdown begin!
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