A few photos!

Learning moments

So what is going on around Walkabout?!

Well the least I can say is that the Lord is definitely moving! He has been able to speak to many of us while we are here journeying in the wilderness. He has revealed Himself in several ways.. mostly through reassurance of why each of us has been called to take part of this intense discipleship program.

What about for my life?

The Lord has definitely revealed to me why I have been called to this place in my life. To grow, to lose control and to learn how to love like He does.

 To GROW in such a way that I am so connected to the Father that I yearn for Him in every second of everyday. To grow in such a way that I am able to read, understand, and relate the biblical knowledge I am learning throughout these 9 months. To grow into the woman of God that He has created me to be. To grow in my identity, to live through His identity and through his characteristics that He has provided for us in scripture.

To LOSE CONTROL of all aspects of my life. To lose control of the grip I hold on my relationships and friendships. To lose control on my personal plans for my life. To lose control of my idea of Him and the box I have trapped the Lord in. To lose control of the worldly desires and to turn toward fulfilling the desires of my Father.

To LOVE like He does. To love in such a way I am patient with those around me. To love those the way that they are in this stage of their life. To love with a deep passion in friendships and relationships. To love in such a way that I desire to help, serve, and comfort those around me. To love in a way that I desire to pour into all that I come into contact with.

 

 

 

Snail Mail...

Chacos and packages/MAIL!!!

So I am super excited to share this information... it may not be a huge deal to anyone else in this world. BUT I will proudly proclaim that my first package as a Walkabout student was my Chacos and I love receiving mail!

For those of you who have not caught on to the Chaco world. These sweet awesome shoes are the best EVER and are perfect for so many activities! They are actually the only pair of shoes I wear, besides my tennis shoes for my morning runs! So for instance I wake up and put on my sweet Chacos…go on a long hike, backpack, swim, and the list can go on.

MAIL UPDATE

So far I have received two letters, a thank you card, 2 postcards, and a package! All of which I didn’t receive until after my first 5 days spent in the wilderness. So if you have sent me something, and it is not listed above… I am sure I will receive it soon so no worries!

Needless to say I was a bit excited to get the mail I have received so far! Thank you sweet friends who have sent me mail, I have been blessed by your encouragement and mail love! I also enjoy writing back in my free time…so if you are a write – WRITE ME!

Wait... BUT we just got here!!!!

First 5 days – SURPRISE backpacking trip

Wowza… Camp Eagle and the Walkabout Discipleship program is no joke (not that anyone thought it was), but let me just tell you I started the first day off with a 5 day and 4 night backpacking trip. We were given 20 short minutes to go to our cabins and pack up the very limited items that we were allowed to bring with us. Previously I posted a blog about materialism and once again the Lord demonstrated to me the worldly desires that I hold in my own flesh.

PHONE: It definitely hasn’t been as hard as it would seem to be without a cell phone, but I have had a few withdrawals from it! More so texting and random phone calls that I am use to receiving. But, I can say that over the past week of being without it.. I have gotten use to not having it with me at all times… OR EVER! Once again a sweet slap in the face about the how important it is to stay face to face connected within relationships and not rely on phones (texting or social media) to build connections. An even greater picture of the separation we create in our own lives from sharing the Gospel with those we love.

INTERNET: Well, similar to my phone, it hasn’t been a huge drastic change and withdrawal, but it is there at times! Mainly because of my constant access to Facebook, email, and Instagram through my iphone. And obviously you can understand that without the phone, there is not internet. Plus we are unable to connect with our computers, except on authorized internet days! Which the day I post this will obviously be one of those days! A reminder from the Lord that we all once lived without the Internet… and the time that I am currently away from such materialism – I am able to better focus and manage my time on journaling and growing closer in the Lord.

SHOWER: Proudly I can proclaim that I have not missed getting to shower every day, but I was very blessed to return to main camp and be allowed to shower after those long 5 days! That sounds gross I know… but hey I am Haley… I am sure you know I enjoy being different and expanding my boundaries! Now… don’t think to extreme about this no shower idea. I was able to jump in a tank at a windmill and a river! But, I was away from the items included in showering (shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, deodorant). The Lord definitely laid it on my heart that I pay a lot of attention to my outward appearance and not enough time on the appearance of my heart.

SLAPS in the face for Haley!!!

Deep Breathe... DIVE IN!

With knots of excitement in my stomach and a little bit of nervousness...

I write my final blog before I start these amazing 9 months!

Who knew?
Looking back on the past 2 years of my life... I would have never thought I would be in this situation and joining a discipleship program for 9 months. I would have never imagined myself to not be teaching or coaching during this 2013-2014 school year. I would have never imagined placing everything I own into a storage unit and taking minimal necessities to live in an extreme outdoor adventure program... BUT would I change it.

Of course not!
Looking back on the past 2 years, a series of events have taken place in my life that have guided me away from what I love and allowed me to focus more directly on what He has planned for my life. Did I know this would occur in my early career, no, but I am very blessed by the outcome. It serves as a reminder that my Father is in control of ALL things.

Looking back on the last year of my life, I think about the many people I have met in the numerous towns I have lived in. I have been so blessed by new friendships, great opportunities, and wonderful amounts of support. The connection that I have built in these towns serve as a wonderful encouragement to what I am currently seeking after in my life.

Looking back at the past 6 months, since March, that I made the decision to no longer search for a teaching or coaching position, to stop working on my Masters in Education, and to stop living for myself and everyone else for that matter... One of the hardest decisions that I have ever made for myself. To stop pursuing after the things of this world, but to chase solely after His will for my life.

Looking back at the last month and a half... What a blessing and test of my faith has this fundraising been. And of course He came through! The blessing of reaching 100% fundraising from the online program, outside donations, and garage sale money.... THE LORD IS GOOD! Gifts from new friends, old friends, best friends, and friendships that are building... All have been such a blessing to these past few weeks.

SO who knew? HE KNEW.. all along.. I may not have, but He did. And I can proudly proclaim that looking back through all these moments... He is there - walking beside me, holding my hand, sometimes carrying me through it all.

So... here I am!

All of me Lord. Take me. Make me. Break me. Mold me. Guide me.

Through YOUR will, have YOUR way!

Love you friends!!! Look for my next post in a few weeks!

MAIL?!?!

Okay so lots of questions have been thrown at me about how to keep in touch and if I have any needs... well snail mail is definitely the way to go to stay in touch! And of course I would love a package, filled with whatever you would like to fill it with!

My address:
Camp Eagle
Walkabout Program Attn: Haley Hill
6424 Hackberry Road
Rocksprings, TX 78880

UPS grounds delivers daily to our campus.. so if you would like me to receive the package earlier than what USPS would deliver it... try that out!

I look forward to hearing from you, getting pictures of you to hang on my wall, drawings from your kids, encouraging cards, and goodies in a package! Whatever you send... know that I am blessed by your support and love you all deeply.

Last day in the big SA!!!

Tomorrow it all begins!

I am sure tonight I will not be able to sleep... even though I should because I have a feeling tomorrow will be a long but AMAZING day! The excitement of this new journey is a little overwhelming and I am so glad! Many people have asked if I am ready... HECK YES!!! I am ready for the Lord to rock my face off and blow me out of the water with the "greater things" He has planned for my life. No more living for me, living in this world, but only seeking/following/obeying all that He has for me.

The time is here!

Everything that I have been preparing for, everything that you have been praying for, and all that is in store for my life and following His will... IT IS TIME!!! :) Praise be to Him, the provider and deliverer of this amazing journey that has arrived! I am all packed up and ready to go! I have a few errands and last minute things I need to take care of today, but other than those.. I could leave tonight!

The Lord is so good and never ceases to amaze me!

I remember one month ago when I began raising the funds for this discipleship program.. I literally began to stress immediately about the funds. In one of my beginning blogs, you read about me breaking down and giving it over to the Lord. Why should I stress about it!? He is in control and has called me into this season of my life! I had absolutely no control... He did! He is the one who provided... through that He may have laid it on your heart to financially support me. Thank you thank you thank you for your obedience!

 

Time to get moving!

I will be posting another blog or two tonight or in the morning before I head out... one will have my address information in it for sure! I am headed out for my last bit of errands!

Love you all!

TWO DAYS remaining.... Lots to do. LOTS of blessings!

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

Sweetest, dearest, most sincere friends... I thank you from the bottom of my heart for jumping in with me and supporting me with all that you have. I continue to tell you about the overwhelming feeling I am surrounded with when I think of the ways in which many of you have reached out and truly helped me on this journey!

 

Fundraising Update with 2 days remaining

My online Razoo account has reached a high of 80% and I am so thankful and very blessed by those many gifts! With my garage sale this past weekend, I have been able to reach the $5000 mark and be able to focus on the funds for my personal bills while I am away.

Many people do not realize that I have to maintain the personal bills while I am in the wilderness, just like I would if I was not! What personal bills you may ask... Well I limited myself to the lowest amount that I could... Cutting off on some things and dropping monthly rates/plans to the lowest that those could go. With that said, I only have my phone bill (lowest plan), car insurance, and storage unit to pay on a monthly basis.

This has been something I have been in a lot of prayer over because as you will know, I am not working, so I will be unable to pay those bills until I return in May and pay them. My dad has committed to up front pay those bills for me, so that I am not cut off, locked out, or given a bad credit. With that said.. I would still owe him which is very understandable. I am blessed by his willingness to help out in that way... but I also know the Lord listens and I am able to cry out to Him about his stressful situation.

Now with that said, I joyfully share with you a sweet friend's request to support me monthly. She shared with me that the Lord has shown her I have a monthly need and she has committed to providing some of these monthly finances while I am on my journey. PRAISE the LORD for the sweetest caring hearts. I was so blown away by this request and answered prayer that I couldn't help but to show up at her work and hug her sweet neck. She will never know how much of a blessing this is to me... Actually none of you will. BUT you can know that I am very thankful and blessed by you!

Oh so I am rambling... That should probably be understood already!

In two days I leave for 9 months... my blog is one way that I am choosing to stay connected to those who have gone out of their way to reach out to help support me. This is also one way that those of you who are walking with me in prayer can personally know what I am going through and how you can be in prayer!

How will this work exactly.. Well I plan on writing blog entries every few days or time that the Lord reveals to me that I need to share. Now with the limited Internet access (2 times a month), this means that I will only be able to post them on those few accounts. SO for instance, if I am given access in two weeks... I will be posting several different blog entries from those past two weeks... so while it may seem strange - Thank you for understanding and still desiring to read my blog!

WARNING: For those who know me well... I will be pouring out my heart, my hurts, my fears, my anger, my joys, my passions, and my list can go on. Please understand that this is part of this journey in my life. 9 months of seclusion spent with the Lord, striving to better understand His will for my life. I know He has a lot in store for me and I plan on being transparent with those of you reading.

Ahhhhh TWO DAYS!!!

Dwindling time... Mind blowing experiences ahead

With only 5 days remaining... I am STOKED!

As I sit outside and work a third full day of garage selling... I think to myself how blessed we all really are. The idea of being able to literally take such a large amount of items/stuff out of our homes. To be able to donate and sell items that are no longer useful to us, clothes that do not fit, appliances that are out of date, and the list goes on. Not everyone in this world has that luxury and I am thankful for this next 9 months to remind me of what truly matters.

Materialism..

You know I have never really considered myself to be materialistic.. not really I guess. I am not a fashionista, nor do I care that I am wearing American Eagle or Wal-Mart branded clothes. I don't run to the store to buy the latest trend or phone. But sitting here, alone, looking at a whole drive way full of items (some of my own items) - it made me think... Haley you are slightly materialistic. Slightly or not - I am. Haley you do care about the things that you have and you do have more than you actually need!

My next 9 months are going to be mind blowing... I already know. If the Lord is already opening my eyes to these things BEFORE I even leave.. I can't imagine the work He is going to be able to do within my life as I spend 9 months in solitude. Ironic much that I will have very little??? Clothes to wear, a sleeping bag to place on the ground, 4 walls with no heating or AC, not even a shower/bathroom area.. No Internet or phone calls.. No car to cruise around in... Seclusion from the world - A step out of my materialistic lifestyle that I have just realized.

It is not ironic at all.. It is the Holy Spirit living, breathing and working inside of me. And though times like this can slap me in the face.. I am very thankful for reminders that the only THING/PERSON I need.. (not money, not fashion, not a car, not a home, not a family) is the Lord as my Savior.

 

Thank you friends for joining me in this journey.. 

Blessed to be here to serve Him.

Feeling His Presence

An overwhelming feeling of love, support, encouragement, and the body of Christ is just a few ways to describe the past two days that I have spent garage selling! To know and have the Lord in my heart is one thing, but being able to actually FEEL Him here with me - that is a wonderful feeling.

I have been so blessed by those who have come out to support me these last two days. Support through financial giving, garage sale donations, encouraging words, precious hugs and many laughs! Thank you friends for dropping off items, allowing me to borrow tables, volunteering your time to help run the sale, and just simply stopping by to say hello and give me a hug! Once again Father reminds me of the greatness of His people, those He has placed in my path for this very reason.

It honestly is a bit overwhelming and I thank you from the bottom of my heart sweet friends. And of course, thank you Father for once again being right here with me... showing me YOU GOT THIS!

Garage Sale Update

Through my final fundraising effort at my garage sale... I am super ecstatic to share that I raised over my goal amount! My original goal was to raise $200- $300 and through this all I have been able to raise double that amount! Praise Him once again! Thank you friends who prayed for the donations, prayed about the turnout, and prayed for the rain to hold off another day... (only because I had so much that had to sit outside overnight)!

Well it is Saturday... I have 6 days remaining!

It's the final countdown!

Here I am!!! The week I have been waiting for!!! Only

7 days

until I am away for this enduring 9 month adventure!

I am super excited, still anxious, and feeling more blessed than ever. Since my last blog... The fundraising has gone from 50% to 72% thanks to sweet friends and generous donors! I am thankful and so very blessed by these gifts! I know the Lord is working and will provide in His time and His way!

 

So now what!? What does my last week look like?!

Well to begin I will be sending a dear friend off back to Plano! We spent four fun filled lake days camping and reminiscing on our mission trip to Tokyo Japan in 2009. I am thankful for the time we were able to spend together, encouraging one another in our current stages of life! She has been a huge help to picking up donations and actually helping me host my garage sale! More info on the garage sale later!

Tomorrow evening I am having dinner with a sweet friend of mine. Catching up since high school and just having one last get together. I am thankful for her sweet heart and willingness to take time out of her schedule to hang out even for a few hours.

This week I will be rushing to get together the last of my equipment that I will need for the 9 months. Equipment wise I was sent a surprise package in the mail from an old NMMI friend, blessing me with some fun Army items that were much needed for my trip! With all that I can say, I have already begun to pack and just need to finish up what I have left. With this task also means cleaning out the bedroom my dad has allowed me to live in these past two months as I moved home to begin fundraising!

I have a few days of private soccer lessons planned that I am super stoked about this last week. A few hours spent on investing in sweet children that I have grown to love through a good friend I made during indoor soccer! Her children have blessed me with their smiles, hugs, and laughter.

I am also working on gathering addresses on those who would like to keep in contact with me my mail. As a reminder, I will not have my phone with cell service, nor will I have Internet. The Internet access that I am granted will be limited to a few (maybe 2) times a month. It is during this time that I intend to post my blogs. If you would like to write me, please message me your address on Facebook!

I am sure there is more in store for my week ahead... but time will tell!

The countdown begins...Fundraising still going on!

The countdown begins...Fundraising still going on!

Well I can officially say I have reached the nervous excitement! As of today... only

13 more days

 until I move off to experience an amazing 9 months in the outdoor adventure program! I still have a lot to do within those 13 remaining days and I am trying to enjoy those days filled with laughter and love with friends and family.

 

So why the nerves???

Well.. fundraising is a stand still at 50%... and that is great and wonderful that the Lord has provided those to bless me with the first $2500! I am always amazed about His provision when He has called me to serve Him in this extreme before.

This next weekend, August 10th will be my final garage sale before I move away! My original goal was to raise between $100-$200 to add to my fundraising. Well because of my need and because I believe He is in control... I have set a new goal to raise over $200 for this last fundraising effort. I have a sweet best friend coming down from Plano and bringing donations from my family and friends up there!

I have been blessed this week as well with sweet San Angelo people who have made garage sale donations to help me raise money! Each time I went to a house to pick up their goods, I was blessed with good conversation and sweet encouragements. The Lord is good and continues to open my eyes to the goodness of fellow believers in this world.