Event Wrap-Up

The Event was swimmingly fantastic! The swim was fast and fun, the finish line was full of friends and family and we surpassed our goal!

We arrived at the start point on the tip of Freeman Park a little later than planned - but I still had time to enjoy quick conversations with friends, family and my ZOE team.  We gathered on the beach in a circle to pray alongside Pastor Greg, founder of ZOE Ministry. Then we loaded everyone back on the boats and off we went on our journey towards the finish line - more than five hours away!

From the shore we faced cloudy skies and choppy conditions - nothing like any of our trial swims!  The boats were heaving and our paddleboarders had to sit on their heels to paddle.  Watching the boats rock side to side increased my fear of seasickness and nausea.  However, once I got in the water, it was just like it's always been: warm and comfortable. On top of that, I felt fast that morning.  

Throughout the day, my friends - and even Doug - jumped in and out throughout the route to swim, keeping steady pace with me. Kayakers continued alongside of me and grew around us with every mile. Boaters came (the Coast Guard auxilliary stayed for the entire day!) and went - floating alongside of us. And my trusted paddleboard guides kept me on track. It felt like a floating tailgate party - with each one of us in some vessel of our choosing.  At one stop, I had to resist the sudden urge to scream out how much I loved it!  

The closer we got to Dockside, the choppy water mixed with our anxiety over deteriorating weather conditions and the excitement of our goal. It seemed as if the water and wind (which was out of the south) were in our favor. I felt exhilerated!  

Course coach, Ben Bowie, allowed me to stop every 30 minutes during the first few hours - but the breaks got shorter and shorter. I watched him tapping his watch and yelling out over our giggley conversation, "all right ladies, it's time to keep moving".  I didn't see the storm clouds, only happiness on everyone's faces, but he was afraid that I'd be 30 minutes from finishing and be pulled from the water with lightening and thunder. I had to keep moving!  

The swimmers who were pacing me got out of the water at our last rest stop - only 30 more minutes of swimming to go.  I put my head down into the water, and started imagining what 60-80 AIDS orphans would look like in one space - one whole grade level at Holly Tree Elementary.  I was filled with excitement - imagining the children receiving their first garden hoe, seeds, instructions and education, and the hope in a future that would grow in their young hearts. 

I was following Guy, our paddleboarder, to Dockside's dock and as we turned a corner from the ICW towards the restaurant, I heard the crowd cheering me on.  I couldn't believe I could hear them while I was swimming - with my head underwater! When I peaked with each breath - it was absolutely breathtaking: like a parade of all of my friends.  The tears of joy and happiness at that finish will be with me forever. My father whispered, if only grandma and grandpa could be here to see this. My mom told me how she had worried about me and was glad I made it safely. My sisters were there, and my sons greeted me with hugs and kisses. I felt completely loved.

Even though the children in Africa have lost their immediate family, with ZOE they are placed in a new family - with less of a chance for poverty and sickness. They have a chance to feel completely loved.  Every person who's been a part of this mission - at the start line, when the idea first took root, throughout these past few months of training and fundraising, and those at the finish line - had a part in making that a reality for a small group of children halfway across the world. That is completely wonderful and I loved every minute of our journey together!  Thank you so very much!!  

Capable

Only four days left to prepare for the swim of my life! As I prepare,  I can't help but think about our individual, unique purposes and contributions to those around us and maybe even those we'll never meet.

Recently, endurance swimmer Diana Nyad decided to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys - a 60-hour, 103-mile undertaking! She had tried it once before when she was 28 years old. That first attempt ended 41 hours and 49 minutes into the swim - she was buffeted and bruised by wind, waves, and the shark cage she was confined to. This year, at 61, she wanted to try again. Nyad told journalists she hoped her swim would inspire others her age to live active lives. She is equipped with determination, drive, motivation and the mental and physical training to overcome challenges and inspire others - including me!

I believe that each one of us is equipped by God to serve a purpose and inspire others. We are capable of so much more than we know. We all have a story to tell of how we have overcome challenges. In fact, some of the challenges we face make us capable in the end. You may remember how I FELL INto Swim for ZOE. 

I fell in love with swimming by nearly falling into a swimming pool when I was two years old! I grew up in a small town in New York and at my sister's  first swim lesson, I decided to jump in, too! The lifeguard had to fish me out and sit me on the side of the pool! The very next week, at her lesson I jumped right back in! The lifeguard fished me out again, but this time, he let me join the class.

I spent my childhood as the only girl at the local Boys Club – practicing technique, swimming endless laps and competing -- and sometimes even beating -- the boys at the club!

Fast-forward 25 years and I am still swimming! I am part of a triathlon club and at least twice a week, we get together at the pool or at the beach to practice technique, swim endless laps and compete. Sometimes I still beat the boys. 

PIX OF MY FAMILY NOW

Dad on a Walk with Me at Wrightsville Beach

The Aversas: Jacob, Brother-In-Law BJ, my beautiful sister, Amy, and Nathan

I fell for God when I was ten years old. That same sister who I followed into the pool practically raised me when my parents divorced. She was there for me and took care of me as my parents worked multiple jobs, shuffled five children to school and activities. For six years, we had an incredible bond - she wiped my tears away, rocked me to sleep, included me in her life. When I was ten and she was 16, that same sister died in a car accident. The divorce and the loss of my best friend and sister left me hopeless for a while. Right around that time, a friend of my mom's (who later became my stepfather) took our family to church. It was there that I heard about Jesus Christ.  As distraught and despairing as I was, hearing that "Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) were exactly the words my ears needed to hear! I began to build a foundation in Christ and I learned to trust him in my hopeless moments. 

I fell for ZOE Ministries in 2006 when I went to Zimbabwe for a mission trip. Through Zoe, we visited AIDS orphans – children who had lost their parents to AIDS or had AIDS themselves. I am a P.E. teacher at Holly Tree Elementary and I did there what I do here: I taught the children to play. While they were waiting to be seen by doctors, I played parachute games, jumped rope, kicked the soccer ball and painted their faces. I tried to show them how to trust God even in their hopeless moments. In return, I was able to see Christ’s face in the faces of those kids! I was able to work with Pastor Greg first-hand and see his servant hood and sacrifice for the orphans. 

As you know, I’ve decided to combine EVERYTHING I love and do something BIG for God. This Saturday I am going to swim ten miles for ZOE ministries. I am going to swim in the Intracoastal Waterway from the Carolina Beach inlet to Wrightsville Sound inlet in a little under SIX hours to raise money for the families. Our goal is $18,000 and we are almost there!

Earlier today, Diana Nyad had to abort her second attempt at that swim from Cuba to the Keys. Windy conditions, less than ideal currents, asthma attacks and shoulder pain stopped her short of her goal. She was already halfway to Florida when she was pulled out of the water. However, I am floored by her ability to swim 29 hours! And I bet that women and men of all ages are inspired to live active lives.

I believe that I was equipped to pursue my goal through Swim for ZOE. I was equipped by my past, my present circumstances and the people in my life. I believe that I can make the 10.3 miles and I believe that we will reach the goal of $18,000. And like Diana Nyad, even if we don't, I won't be sad. We have used our abilities to inspire others to live out loud!

I know you can live out loud and accomplish great things in your life? What will it be? This video clip may help you notice that you can do way more than you ever thought possible.  Let's go live!

The Heat is On!

The pressure is building as we near event day on August 13.  Our excitement and anticipation has almost reached a boiling point! For starters - there's the weather - the sun is pushing our temperatures into the 90's everyday! We reached a record high on Saturday (101 degrees) - my last trial swim before the big event! My windows are foggy with condensation - due to the hot temps outside and max air-conditioning inside!

Plus, my family is expected in town soon! There are ELEVEN family members traveling here for an unusual family reunion.  In the past, my husband, my boys and I have traveled to New York for our regular July 4th get-together. This year, the family is headed here to reunite and support the swim! In addition to swim practices, I've been frantically finding housing and beds for all the adults.

Finally, we're feeling the heat of a deadline! We have ELEVEN days to raise $9,840 to reach our goal!!!! We're contacting businesses for sponsorships and raffle prizes. We're inviting every person we know to the finish line celebration. We're drumming up media spots and dishing up barbeque to supporters. We're attending fundraising dinner parties and tons more! We're overcoming each obstacle and pressing forward. We've started to receive more yes's than no's. It seems like our fundraising thermometer is matching the temps outside! 

Part of the S4Z Team: Leanne, Beth S., Wendy and Ben B., Alicia U., Jen M., Patty and Guy D.

God has given me an ice-pack to cool down: my ZOE team. We have grown to ELEVEN strong. Each of us has a distinct and different part to play in fundraising and the swim. There are two paddle-boarders, two kayakers, two swim practice partners, two in the support-and-gear director's boat, one public relations guru, one self-proclaimed tech goddess and my BFF who has done a little bit of all of the above!!! We have the best thing going and work amazingly well together -- better than any other groups that I've seen. I feel blessed that God has placed us and positioned us here. It is quite extraordinary to work with such talented individuals! I am thankful for this opportunity to be included in something God wants done.  I am tearfully appreciative of them all. 

Below, you'll find an inspiring quote and your invitation to the finish line celebration:

"My understanding of God's constancy in His love encourages me to return His love by living a life which would bring honor to Him.  I want to become a woman of excellence not because I have to perform, but because I choose to please God."  Cynthia Heald

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