A New Post for You to Read

I was informed that I should write a new blog post... so here it is:

Nothing too exciting has been happening in my life. I just finished 3 1/2 weeks of working 14-16 hour days (if you do the math, its about 400 hours of work in just 4 weeks). Crazy, right? But I love it. My job is so fulfilling, especially now that the Nomads are (mostly) all on the road. Just knowing that I helped them get to the places that they are now presenting at has been incredible. They have only had a few screenings, but every time I hear a story, or every time Sean gets another email for a 9 Lives sign up in Ohio, I feel proud that I had even just a little something to do with them getting there.

It was so easy to get lost in it all, making phone call after phone call, sending email after email, but in the end it's always worth it. As all those wise guys always say (paraphrased), the journey on your way to the destination is the important part.

Tomorrow, the last two teams (Heartland and MidSouth) leave for the road. The house has slowly emptied out from 20 people to 14 people to 12 people, and tomorrow, we will be down to 5! It will probably be a bit lonely, but at the same time, it will be nice to have space.

People keep asking me if I miss the road, or if I'm sad that I'm not going on tour. I have to say, I don't miss it at all. I wouldn't trade my experience for the world, but I definitely will not be doing it again. I think the biggest reason is that my interests have moved beyond traveling. I still will raise awareness about the North Korea crisis, but it will be through my own means (Facebook, blogging, chatting it up with people I meet).

I'm also trying to figure out what to do with my life now... I was officially accepted to UCSD last week (YAY!), but I'm still waiting to hear back from 4 other schools. However, so far, I have been heavily recruited by UCSD. I got a call from a current student, AND from the chair of the admissions committee. Aren't I special? (haha)

But for now, I'm just focused on getting this tour booked up, and then I'll figure out the next step when it gets here.

:)

To the Nomads

To the Northeast Nomads, Southeast Nomads, West Nomads, Heartland Nomads, and MidSouth Nomads, as you go off on your adventures for the next 11 weeks:

“If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart, I’ll always be with you.” -A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Good Luck! I can't wait to hear about your adventures, and to see what kinds of things you can accomplish! Don't ever forget what you are working for-- you have the ability to change lives. You have the ability to save lives.

It has been said many times, but it is you, the Nomads, who inspire us every day, to keep going, and to keep fighting the good fight.

<3 Kelley

How to Save a Life

We all lose focus sometimes. I have been so obsessed with booking screenings for this tour that I forgot what I was doing it for. This weekend, I was trying to justify my loooong hours to my boyfriend, when I said that I was doing it for the North Korean refugees. I keep saying that, but never really thought about it.

At the end of the fall tour, it hit me, especially when it was revealed that we were able to raise the funds to rescue 16 refugees total. Since that time, I have had a little reminder sitting on my desk, saying that number, but I never thought about it since then. Over this past weekend, I remembered what that really meant.

Here at LiNK, we are saving lives. It's not all about the numbers. It's easy to get lost in the numbers, but that's not what we're about. Soon, we will be implementing the money from the fall tour and additional funds to rescue a total of 32 refugees this year (as soon as possible)! That is 32 people who will have freedom who otherwise wouldn't.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by a group of people who are working alongside me to help see this crisis come to an end, starting with helping out those who are most in need, as we can help them now. I can't wait to see what this new group of Nomads can achieve!

:)