People say I’m crazy.
Since I was little, “Yeah…that Amanda…she’s crazy.”
I get it from everyone.
Friends. Family. Family friends. People who know me and people who don’t.
And ya know?
I’m okay with it.
“Well-Behaved
Women Seldom Make History”
And, it’s not so much that I’m not behaving… I just like to
do things differently.
Why NOT run a marathon to raise awareness and funds for my
little butternugs in Africa?
Why NOT go right back to Rwanda after I just got
back?
Why NOT devote my time, my energy, my Friday nights and
Saturdays, weekday mornings and ‘what not’ to training my life away to cross a
finish line 26.2 miles away so I can devote my time, my energy and every piece of my heart to children thousands of miles away?
Pounding foot to pavement.
‘Sole’ to Earth.
You see, when I do things… yeah, I’m a bit of a
dreamer. I like to do things Big.
You see, I was never a runner. I never wanted to just
‘run’ as a hobby.
And then I signed up, and finished, two half marathons. As I’ve seen myself do with things in life,
after I finished that first 1/2 marathon in San Diego in 2004-- I said,
“There. I’m done. That was insane, tough, brutal, and ...
hard. And I don’t EVER want to do it again.” And I was
finished. I had my heart set on quitting the running world....
And as life has it, the road between then and today was the
bumpiest, curviest, most challenging journey I’ve faced. And almost 7
years later, I felt the emptiness creep inside as my heart tugged towards the
pavement. I was to be out on those early morning training days, and I
knew it, but thought I would never be there again. The training was hard,
but I was at such a low place in my life that running was like therapy to
me. It got me through some pretty muddy water and some really tough
times, and crossing that finish line for the 2nd time was even MORE victorious
for me than the first.
But something was still missing.
As I crossed that finish line at LP Stadium in April of 2011,
running 13.1 miles around Music City with 35,000 other runners and even 25,000
more people cheering me on, there was still an emptiness inside me. One
that said I needed more.
I wanted to keep going.
So, here I am, another year later and wondering WHAT IN THE
WORLD I have gotten myself into as I endure the long training season for my
very first, very long, Chicago Marathon in October. Hundreds of miles of
rough terrain ahead of me.
But instead of wanting to quit, I can’t tell you how excited
I am to be a part of this world again.
THIS is what it’s about. This feeling. The
nerves are there, the adrenaline. You feel the encouragement from fellow
runners. The high after hitting certain mileage. How all your
conversations usually revolve around which trail, which shoes, which shot
block, Gu, or mileage you’re at.
They say it’s a lifestyle, and now I know why...
You see, just like committing to the 1st, and then the 2nd
half, I NEVER thought I would ever go to Africa. I didn’t even think I
would ever work for an organization that deals with orphans oversees. I
went to Uganda and Ethiopia last summer and Rwanda this past May.... and like
those half marathons, it was hard. Those trips are tough, insane, brutal
and .... Life Changing.
And when I get back.....something is always missing.
Like that 2nd marathon, I know I need more.
I want to keep going.
And so here I am, committing myself to yet another race to
Africa.
My heart is beating. I’m scared and nervous and
anxious and excited and overwhelmed--just like training for a marathon.
But my heart is beating.
This is what makes me feel alive. Like pounding foot
to pavement in a race, we pound foot to dirt on the mission field. My
heart beats.
I get to visit orphans, telling them how important they
are. That they have a purpose, a destiny. That they have been
forgiven, or that they have a place in this world. I get to love on
them. And when it’s said and done, it’s probably more therapy to me than
them. And my heart beats.
They say it’s a lifestyle, and now I know why...
Because of this, I wanted to DO something I love FOR
something I love. I’m running this
marathon for THEM. When I cross that
finish line, I want to remember that I’m running for a Cause. There are
163 million orphans in the world. I’m running for THEM.
I’m asking you today, to remember every race, triathlon, or
competition you’ve ever run, any award you’ve ever won. That feeling you
get crossing the tape. The excitement you feel with each
accomplishment. The overwhelming joy you receive as each step gets you
closer and closer to the end.
That’s how I feel when I get to visit these children, and
I’m asking for your help in getting me there.
We have opportunities for individuals to sponsor a lot, or a
little. Anything will help. Any
contribution will get me closer to that finish line...
**There are many ways to sponsor if you’re able.
The easiest, and I like to think, most convenient way is to go to our DONATE
page on the website.
VISITING ORPHANS: DONATE HERE
FUND CATEGORY:
-Drop the menu to CHICAGO
MARATHON
*Amount to Donate
*Repeating Donation (you can click NO)
PREFERENCE THE DONATION TOWARD SPECIFIC TEAM MEMBER
-Click Team Member or
ministry and type my name, AMANDA HERDINA in the box
And there ya have it. You will be well on your way to
helping change and inspire an orphan’s life forever. You’ve already
inspired mine....
Run ‘til the end,
Amanda Herdina
No comments:
Post a Comment