Everyday I am amazed at how much is involved in starting an organization and planning a trip around the world. Of course it is a lot of work, I would be a fool to think it would be easy, but there are so many little things that I have never considered. From filling out all the paperwork to handing out fliers, from seeking donations for an auction to continually contacting different organizations, it is enough to make me feel like I can't see straight any more. For crying out loud, I just realized this morning that it's August!
Despite the increased stress levels and financial output, I am thrilled with where we are as an organization right now. We are basically just waiting for the IRS to send a determination letter, and at that point we have one more application to complete. Last week we got our first letter reminding us to complete our quarterly report, which actually is humorous since we don't really have anything to report. Thinking about where we are now versus even 3 months ago is mind boggling, and encouraging.
As far as the trip goes, I have hit a bit of a lull in the action. With the vast majority of my attention set on fundraising activities and paperwork for the state and IRS, it has been difficult for me to find much time to be in touch with the people I need to be at each organization. I am optimistic that I will hear from one of the organizations this week or next with their final decision/offer for the internship we have been discussing the past couple months. I am right now on a serious hunt for a water and sanitation organization in either Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or India. A number of such organizations I have been in touch with have no internship program in place, and therefore are not able to handle my request to spend 10 weeks with them. This has been frustrating, but I am confident that the right one will be presented at the right time.
In other news, I had my first minor breakdown a couple days ago while I was in the midst of processing one of the many applications, planning one of our fundraising events, and communicating with a couple different organizations, all while doing my laundry and grocery shopping. Now, I am fully aware that my lifestyle doesn't exactly produce high stress levels, but this was a lot for me to handle while I was trying to wrap my mind around what I am actually doing. A lot of times, in light of the increasingly quickly approaching journey I am planning, I want to put everything else aside while I simply spend time living life with all the people I love here. Finding that balance has been difficult for me. I feel the pressure to do everything with everyone before I leave, knowing full well that there is as good of a chance that I won't ever live here again as there is that I will. That is a very anxiety-inducing thought for me, and I am continuing to ask for everyone's prayers that I am able to use the time I have left here as best as possible in all the areas of my life. There are sure to be more stressful days, and I'm sure those days will be nothing compared to what I will experience later in life, when I have real responsibility beyond myself. I'll do my best to write more regularly, as I am trying to create this habit so it will be easier during my trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment