Hi!

So much has happened in the last few months! I officially graduated high school on May 9th, and since then, life has been a beautiful whirlwind. To help fundraise for the World Race, I started a new job, and I have seen God's hand through the whole transition. I am working at a restaurant called Truce, and it is not just Christian-owned, but from the managers down to the kitchen staff they show God through serving each and every day! Something I am learning in this job is that every day I work, I am called to serve and love because God worked, served, and loved first. Every day I work, I am also reminded that I am to work unto the Lord as well as the authorities He has put me under.

While God is using this job to prepare my heart, I’ve also been busy preparing practically! A few weeks ago I went to REI and bought so many things for the trip. I now have a backpack that is quite literally as big as me 😂. I also got a sleeping bag that will basically become my new layer of skin at night, a pillow (very important!), and a sleeping pad that feels absolutely heavenly. Buying the gear has made everything feel so much more tangible.

Only 79 days until I go to training camp, which feels completely unreal.

What also feels unreal is how I am more than halfway fundraised! I am deeply humbled and incredibly blessed by everyone who has stepped up to support me, whether through finances, encouragement, or prayer. Reaching this halfway mark isn't just a number to me; it’s a tangible reminder of God’s provision. I couldn't do this without you all, and I am so grateful that God placed me in such an amazing "tribe" to help me live out my dreams of serving!

But alongside the physical prep, God has been doing a massive amount of work on my heart.

Lately, He’s been showing me that I can’t focus more on my outward behavior than what’s actually happening on the inside. It is so easy to get caught up in external rules. For me, that looks like trying hard to avoid worldly temptations—making sure I don't follow the crowd in how I talk or act, listening to music that isn't pleasing to the Lord, or making sure I don't stay out too late with friends where bad decisions can happen. Those are all good, tangible boundaries to put up, but I realized I was putting them at the center of my life just to try and be a "stronger" Christian.

But true discipleship isn't built from the outside in. Inward faith flows outwardly, not the other way around. I am learning that it shouldn't just be about saying "no" to things simply because I know they're wrong; it's about growing so close to Jesus that I genuinely don't want to do them anymore. If my heart isn't deeply rooted in intimacy with Him, all those boundaries are just empty rules.

I’ve been diving deep into what it actually looks like to live as a disciple and walk in the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness... these aren't just traits to tick off a list. They’re the natural overflow of a surrendered life. Before I ever step on a plane to go serve, I want my inner life to be a place where the Holy Spirit is completely at home, changing my desires from the inside out.

Prayer requests for the next few weeks:

• That I would truly soak up this time and be fully present with the friends and family I’ll be leaving in just a short while.

• That I would continue to focus on my inward walk with God amidst the storm of the world.

• For the remaining fundraising to come together in God’s perfect timing.

Thank you all for walking this journey with me, both logistically and spiritually. The countdown is officially on!

Sincerely,

Anna Yarbrough