About eleven months ago I began fundraising for the world race. Let me just tell you a few stories….
Before I even got accepted a friend called and told me she wanted to support me. I knew God was going before me and providing for me ahead of time and that He would take care of the large sum of money that had to be raised. I needed a total of $15,500.
When I did get accepted, the lady I worked for at the time told me that God would bring it all in before I left for the race. I wasn’t so sure but I started praying and knew He would! She began to give herself in the ways He was leading and I was extremely blessed how she poured into me financially and spiritually. She also made dishclothes for me to sell and they were a hit! Cute little sets that matched that people were giving when they bought them. Many said they would pray for me as they used them!
My Aunt then decided she wanted to sell cookies for me at $20 a dozen, seems steep right? But she was willing to offer up her talent of baking and boy were those cookies AMAZING!! And people didn’t just pay for $20 for a dozen cookies. I opened up a check for $500! Can you believe that?! All because my aunt was willing to offer her time and talent God multiplied the giving and it was my second biggest fundraiser, totaling out at $1,400! These cookies were the talk on campus! Thank you auntie!
Then I found a note on my desk one day and it was exactly what I needed. One of my girlfriends at school anonymously had left an encouraging card, a verse, and money for the race. I cried. God was always working something to amaze me.
I sent out the support letters soon after and people began responding immediately. Thank you for being obedient where God called you to give!
Some friends that I only knew for a week gave over $500. I had worked with them in Guatemala last summer and they were like my mamas. They blew me away.
Another friend from school did an entire fundraiser behind my back. She went all over inner campus selling chocolate covered oreos and decorated picture frames that girls could use as dry erase boards. The money she raised from that trip covered all my gear when I budgeted. She also got my school to agree to host a ZUMBATHON and we had a blast dancing for the race! People who couldn’t make it to the zumbathon sent me letters and donations through campus mail. Thank you!
It was often that I found notes and letters with encouragement and a donation.
Next I sold tee shirts through a girl who lived in my building. Her dad prayed about it and gave me a super generous deal. Not only that but people gave over and above when buying their shirts from me and when I saw people wearing them around campus it made my heart smile!
My mom, sister, and grandma helped me to put on a garage sale and another friend helped to do a bake sale! The baked goods sold like hot cakes and the garage sale went over super well too!
I also did a sending spaghetti dinner over the summer and in one night we raised a large chunk of money! People gave over and above the $6 entrance fee! My mom and sister and best friend ran the dinner and served. We worked on coasters the week before and sold those too! The same friend who helped bake for the garage sale baked again! My bestie also made the cutest centerpieces and I was blessed by everyone I got to update after training camp about my time there and my recently found out role as logistics coordinator.
In the last week God brought in $700 between people at church and school. A friend called and wanted to give the last huge chunk that I had posted about on facebook and I was blown away because it was the day before I was leaving for launch and God showed up and made me fully funded. From all the giving people at church and school and even my brother I was at my goal! What God said would happen, He did, the day before I left for Chicago. He is always right on time.
I can’t tell you how much others generous giving speaks to my heart. Time and time again God blew me away by a friend or a family member. The amount seemed too big, but I can’t forget that nothing is too big for God. I am fully funded. Praise God!
More importantly God placed people in my life and set up divine appointments to pour into me spiritually. There were so many ways God prepared my heart, mind, and body through people He placed in my life. There is no amount I can put on that. Thanks to those who poured into me!
Thank you supporters, family, and friends! Blessings on you!
