Merry Christmas My Friends!
I hope that is all is well in your camp as you travel all over the country to spend time with your family and friends.
First off I just wanted to thank all of you for your interest in The Earth Expedition and its causes. Many of you are sponsors, friends, family, and people I have never met from all over the world. Many of you have been crucial in the progress of the expedition so I thank you.
Here is an update since last month:
Daren's Mind: I think that my head is going to explode. I have a feeling that if I didn't sleep for the next 74 days and worked on nothing other than the Expedition I would still feel unprepared. I mean... how do you plan 8 years of your life? I feel like I am chasing a carrot on the end of a stick. One thing leads to another and each day I add to the list of things that I need to be done before I leave on March 8th. This whole expedition has taken on a life of its own. It is actually extremely exciting. Interviews are constantly knocking on my door, Sponsorships slots are filling up fast, and I have never felt more alive in my life. I feel like my life is taking on purpose. That purpose that people dream about all of their life but never seem to obtain. There is nothing better than knowing the reason that you exist, the reason that you were created and the reason that you walk the earth. It is quite a ride and I am sure that I will have more epiphanies over the years but it seems that the decision to become a minimalist and devote the next 7 years of my life to helping others are the reason for this feeling. There is nothing better than helping others. I read this in a book a couple of days ago..."No one has ever said on their death bed "I wish I would have made more money" or "I wish I would have spent more time in the office". it just confirmed my philosophy of life.
 Vote for Blood:Water Mission
Friends, Blood:Water Mission has been nominated for the Myspace Impact Award and we need your help! If Blood:Water wins the award we will receive a $10,000 donation and promotion throughout Myspace!
You can vote for Blood:Water Mission by visiting http://www.myspace.com/impactawards. Please vote once a day, everyday, until the voting closes on Dec. 26th! Pass this along to as many friends as you can.
Training: My body has taken a toll over the past 8 months. From training and executing the Chicago marathon to a new job that entails manual labor I have found that I have entered a new level of fitness. I feel stronger and more fit than I ever have. But that is just the beginning. In the last newsletter that I sent out I shared with you that I have was contacted by a fitness specialist that specializes in injury prevention. We have been training 5 days a week in order to make walking with 40-45 pounds on my back a walk in the park. Along with training I have changed my diet in order to provide my body with what it needs. Shaun Craft from Complete Fitness and I have been reaching and surpassing goals set at the beginning of the training. Just last week I was able to squat a Max weight of 365 pounds. Yeah.... That is three 45 pound weights and one 25 pounder on each end of the bar. Most people look at me and say... yea right....well I anticipated that response so here is your proof: Thanks Shaun.
 
Outdoor Retailer: Once again I will be going to O.R. about 5 months ago I went to this massive trade show with the help of Atwater Carey (current sponsor). It was a breakthrough for the expedition when it comes to finding sponsorships and networking with the right people. I am headed back at the end of Jan for the Winter Market. Then I am leaving Wisconsin forever to go and visit my family for a month before I leave on March 8th.
A Tree, Some paper and Scissors, and a Dream.. 
Last month in the newsletter I shared a story with you about my speaking engagement at a High School up in Madison where I was able to raise $515 dollars for Blood:Water Mission. I shared the story with the students of when I had the everything I own sale in order to pay off all of my debt. The crazy thing is that I sold everything... .literally everything except for a Christmas Tree. This Christmas tree has been sitting in the back of my car for about 3 months now. I never got around to throwing it away. After telling this story to a classroom of students at Edgewood High School a couple of girls approached me after class asking if they could have the tree. I was thinking "Jackpot...now I can get that piece of junk out of my car" I asked them why they wanted it. They shared with me that they wanted to use the tree as a fundraiser. So explained that they wanted to cut out paper ornaments for the tree and sell them at their school for a dollar. For those of you who have not yet heard: $1 provides clean drinking water for 1 African for 1 year! Well I have the results of that fundraiser. I received an email last week where they told me that they have raised $460 dollars for Blood:Water Mission! A coincidence...I think not.
Money is great...awareness is great, but what is even better is when a group of students get together with the sole purpose of serving others they will never meet. That is truly a selfless act. They changed the life of 460 people this year. That is LIFE TO THE FULLEST! Great Job Girls!
Klove Pod cast: This will link you to the I-tunes Podcast interview that took place a couple of weeks ago. Check it out!
KLOVE PODCAST
 Money directly raised to date: $515
With help from Edgewood High School Fundraiser: $460
Total: $975
Heartland Sponsorship: I have sponsors for a lot of my tangible needs from footwear to water purification and I have been preparing for The Earth Expedition financially, mentally, and physically but I asked myself how was I going to prepare for this spiritually? Last week I met with the guys and girls over at Heartland PM. It is the church that I have been attending for a few months. After a couple conversations we have decided to partner together. Not only will I be financially, mentally, and physically prepared over the next 7 years I will also be spiritually prepared. Good stuff
If you have an interest in The Earth Expedition and feel that you have a skill set that would benefit the expedition or simply have questions then you may reach me at Daren@theearthexpedition.com .
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