Fund raising.

I had a motto this weekend.

"For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall," - Psalm 18:29.

By donning this attitude and a bright shade of red lipstick, I decided I could dominate the world. Strangely enough, I had no trouble going by myself to an audition in an unfamiliar place and confidently performing for the panel of directors. I went back inside the first church I ever belonged to with an old friend and conquered some awkward memories with him without any hesitation. What, you ask, was the thing that finally got to me?

Stirring a giant vat of thick, steaming Brunswick stew.

Saturday afternoon, post audition, my family drove to Greensboro for the first of my Romania fundraisers. My aunt, soon-to-be uncle, and friends had been out at the first church I ever attended since 4AM making giant vats of Brunswick stew to sell for my trip. By the end of the day every bit of it had been sold, and I believe the grant total was 170+ containers. At $7 a container, that adds up to some real money. I'm now at over half of my funds raised! I don't know the official number yet, but I do know that I feel incredibly loved and extremely blessed that people who haven't seen me since I wore overalls and had hair rivaling that of Hermione Granger were willing to come out and spend money to support me (or just to have stew. . . but still.)

Don't get off thinking that I didn't have to do anything but make a celebrity like appearance and be a pretty face at this event. Despite that I came dressed post-audition in a nice romper and leather jacket, I was still put to work by the claim of "We've been out here since 4AM for you!".

My Romania team has taken on a slightly "What would Apolo Ohno do?" outlook on this trip (due to the love for speed skating that one of my teammates and I share), and as a symbol of it we are all wearing red bandanas while we are there, and in some cases while doing things involving our trip pre-departure.

Frank led me inside the tent where the stew was being cooked, handed me a giant ladle and told me to scoop into the containers we was holding. Taking a deep breath that smelled like nature and hot stew, I tied the red bandana around my head, nearly gagged, but tried to keep the heart of a lion as Apolo would do, and plunged the ladle into the giant steamy mess.

Like all good and loyal best friends, my friend Kate was there with camera in tow, so you can all experience the lovely image that was Sarah Arant in her nice clothes, giant sweat shirt, and Apolo bandana partaking in the fundraising for her Romania trip. It is definitely a sight to behold.

I almost vomited everywhere at the site and smell of stirring this mess, but I ran against the troop and leapt over a wall. God has sent me through a lot of challenges in preparation not only for the rest of my life, but for this trip, so it was about time I faced another one. I just wasn't aware it would be in the form of a thick soup.

Days until Romania: 107.

Funds raised: (estimated) $3,075 out of $4,350.