Posted in General Posts by Garrett Hammonds on 5/7/2012
I have been hesitant to write this blog since I had this experience a few weeks ago. Mainly because I was afraid that I would not be able to tell the story in a way that makes clear sense. So bare with me on this one.
I want to start out by saying that I am very skeptical. When other people talk about how God has spoken to them, or I experience it, I continually find myself trying to write it off as something else. But, I believe that what I experienced in the library a few weeks ago is nothing shy of a miracle.
On the day that all this happened I had been questioning everything about my relationship with God, and had essentially come to the point where I told him I didn't know what to believe, and was tired of searching for answers.
As I sat in my room working on my paper for my history class I paid little attention to the man who repeatedly walked by the window of my room. But, then he came up and knocked on the door. I thought oh man this guy is getting ready to tell me I have done something wrong and now I am in trouble. Then he asked if he could talk to me about something for a second. I then thought oh man this guy is about to start evangelizing to me. But, what happened next is something I don't think I'll ever forget.
Jeff was the man's name. He said that as he walked by the room I was sitting in he repeatedly felt God calling him to talk to me. And that each time he went to go back to work he continually felt pushed to go back to my room. He then went on to say he felt that God was telling him that I was struggling with something, and going against the grain. So I told him about how I had been wrestling with a lot of things in my mind, and how soon I would be going on The World Race.
As he talked he was staring at my notebook, but it seemed like he was looking at something somewhere else. He went on to say that even though I was struggling that God was contending for me. He said that even in our anguish we can see the beauty of God, just as David wrote many of his Psalms as he was in anguish. He said that God would use my transparency to bring people to him. I spent most of the time that Jeff was talking with my mouth wide open stunned and not really knowing what to say.
Jeff said a lot of things that day in the library, but this is most of what I can remember clearly. I believe if If Jeff had not had the courage to come to my room and speak with me that day I would not be continuing to seek God and pushing to go on The World Race.
I say all these things, and tell this story so that you also can know that even though we sometimes feel we have grown very far from God, he is still contending for us. Even when we are in anguish we can't give up, because that is when we often see the true beauty of God.
Thanks for reading my blogs!
If you feel led to donate towards my journey on The World Race, just click the "support me" link on the left side of the page.
Thanks again!
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Posted in General Posts by Garrett Hammonds on 4/6/2012
Hey everyone, so here is what's going on!
This year there will be an election, and you can take part right here on my blog!
No, not the presidential election, but the beard election.
Starting now until May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), you will be able to vote on the future of my facial hair.
Your choices are as follows:
1. Shave the goatee, and leave the chops (sideburns)
2. Shave just the chin, leave the rest (a. k. a the wolverine)
3. The handle bar mustache.
But this is no ordinary vote, it is also a fundraiser!
So you vote with donations.
Each dollar counts as a vote, but you can vote as many times as you want, and with whatever size donation you choose.
Like I said the vote starts now and runs until May 5th. The style with the most votes on the 5th wins, or the option to raise 1,000 dollars first wins!!
All you have to do to vote is click on the "Support Me!" link on the left side of the page, then fill out the form to donate/vote as much as you choose to.
Once you have donated/voted email me, and let me know which option you are voting for and the amount you donated, so that I can tally up the votes.
My email is: HammondsG@goldmail.etsu.edu
If you have any further questions about how voting works or about The World Race, feel free to include those in you emails or call me at (865)-235-7634.
Thanks! Let the best beard win!
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Posted in General Posts by Garrett Hammonds on 2/23/2012
I have discovered something about myself in the process of preparing to go on the race. I may be among the world's best at worrying. For me the process of learning to trust that something will work out, and even if it doesn't, learning to accept that, is difficult.
Fundraising becomes a dirty word for many who take part in The World Race. Whether it is coming up with ideas to raise funds, or saying what needs to be said to evoke a response among potential donors, worry is right beside me the whole way. It has even inhibited my ability to be grateful for that which I already have, because I feel as if it simply isn't enough.
As I wrote letters tonight to those who have already donated I began to actually think about the decision they made by taking part in this ministry. I began to realize that when all the fundraising is said and done, I have been shown amazing love, often from people who don't know me that well. It is this choice that people have made, to love, and not my worry that will make The World Race happen, and will change the world.
"Will I be able to go in July?", is a common question I ask myself. But I am beginning to realize that either way, I have been given the opportunity to walk a path where God is teaching me to trust, and to be thankful for God's and other people's love.
As always please subscribe to my blog, and if you feel led to donate to an important and beautiful ministry, you can do so by clicking the "support me" link on the left. Thanks!
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Posted in General Posts by Garrett Hammonds on 11/12/2011
Each day has been a challenge since I've been accepted to the world
race. There is a constant feeling of urgency that has been burning inside
me to be proactive in fundraising, blogging, praying and a thousand other
things. It is so hard to know where to begin and I have been telling myself it
is all on me whether or not this boat sinks or sails. But today as I prayed in
the shower. Yes the shower. I came to the amazingly simple, yet so hard to
accept conclusion, that I can't make this thing called the world race happen
without God's help. Cliche I know, but even though I have told myself a
thousand or more times this simple idea, today it began to take hold of my
heart.
Now I'm not saying I will have unwavering trust in God's plan for me
because lets be honest we have all wondered why some things we feel
God is telling us are so against what we wanna do, or feel, or hear. But
when we slowly give up who we think we are, or who we wanna be, we
become something all together different than what we are used to seeing
inside ourselves. I think something better. So for now I'm going to try to rely
on God. Because he and I know that if I don't start now this next year is
going to crush me.
This blog isn't just about me though, its about everyone's experience in
faith when we as followers choose to follow, even when it is not what we
want to do. This is a story and I want all who read this to take part,
because God's plan is personal and also on a big scale. I pray that in the
things that God shows us through the world race over the next year, you
and I may gain some insight into the amazing ways God works in all of our
lives.
And always remember you can suscribe to my blog by clicking on the links to left, or donate to the cause by clicking SUPPORT ME on the left as well.
Thanks for following,
Garrett Hammonds
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Posted in General Posts by Garrett Hammonds on 11/2/2011
If you have talked to me recently than most likely you have heard me talk
about The World Race. The first thing people ask when I tell them I am going on The World Race is usually either what is that, or they think I have just informed them I'm going to be on the television show "The Amazing Race", and are extremely confused when I let them know I will be doing mission work.
While I may not be going on the amazing race, I am taking part in an extremely important ministry that has impacted many lives across the globe. The World Race is an eleven month mission project that goes to eleven different countries, spending a month in each. I will be leaving on the July 2012 route. This route goes to: India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Latvia, Estonia/ Lithuania, and one country we decide on our own as a team. In each country we will be doing a variety of mission work, ranging from working in homeless shelters, to fighting to stop the sex trade in Thailand. As well as everything you can imagine in between, to show to those who so rarely if ever get to see a glimpse of God's love in their lives.
Mission work is about helping others, and showing God’s love, often times in many areas that we tend to forget about. Mission work is also about being part of a ministry, something bigger than us as individuals. Taking part in a ministry can take many forms, whether it means we help others through physically going and serving them, or by supporting those people who go, financially or through other means such as prayer.
I feel God calling me to take part in the ministry of The World Race in a physical since, by leaving home and going to these countries to serve those that God loves just as much as you and I. I am asking you to take equal part in this ministry by donating whatever amount of money possible to make this mission trip a reality. ANY amount of money donated makes a huge impact on whether or not I will be able to take part in The World Race! But this is not about me, it is instead about realizing that we have been given a great responsibility to serve others, and I ask that instead of making an immediate decision, you should instead pray about it and see if you are being called to take part in this amazing ministry.
If you feel God calling you to take part in this ministry by giving financially then CLICK on the SUPPORT ME link on the left of this page.
I will be keeping everyone informed through this blog and emails, as my journey on this race which starts now, and continues throughout the next year, shows me more about how God is playing an integral part in not just my life, but in the lives of all who choose to answer his call. So please feel free to subscribe to my blog to get notices about updates, or email me if you have further questions. You can find all this and more on the left of this page. (HammondsG@goldmail.etsu.edu)
Thanks for the support, and prayers.
Sincerely,
Garrett Hammonds
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