The process of fundraising has been difficult but rewarding. When I got home from working on the ship I was overwhelmed with the things I needed to get done. First there was all the fundraising to do, the letter, talking to my pastor, posting on facebook, all of it. It all felt daunting and I didn’t know how it was going to work. Second there was the preparation for the trip itself, like the backpack and sleeping pad I needed. Looking at all these things it was going to cost me a lot of money just for the supplies!! Sheesh, like I didn’t have enough money to worry about already! Then there was the matter of making money, I wasn’t going back to my job for 7 weeks, as is usual for a Disney Cruise Line employee vacation. So making no money for 7 weeks, plus having to get all my supplies to start my fundraise, plus buy supplies for the trip! Needless to say my head was exploding!
Just like anyone, I tried to do this all myself. Sure every so often I’d ask God for help, but I’m a selfish, proud human woman who wants to do everything for herself. Just like every single time I try to take things into my own hands, I fail and get discouraged and God shows me how powerful and wonderful He is. In the last 5 weeks I have seen verse after verse about not being Anxious for God is in control. I haven’t looked them up, they just keep popping up in sermons, in things people say, just randomly in my mind, or my Bible will fall open to the verse. Hmm…. is God trying to tell me something?
After all my trouble starting out God has shown me that He is faithful and with me 100%. First, with my worries about supplies, my friend, whose sister went on the WR two years ago, tells me she has a backpack for me!! Praise the Lord! Not only is it the perfect backpack, but inside was a good quality sleeping pad!! That’s around $300 I saved right there. Then my dad says that he has a tent I can use, and its just perfect! There’s another $200 saved. I have my own sleeping bag, another $50! So I saved over $600 in supplies because my friends and family were willing to donate!! God is faithful!!
My friend had to have surgery on her knee, and while she was out for that I took over her two nanny jobs for a week and made quite a bit of money!! Which helped me with the not working part of everything!! I also got a huge tax refund! yay! God is good!
After setting up all of my fundraising websites/crochet sales and letters sent out I have made $380!!! Quite a bit coming from people I never expected! So I’m on my way! I have met with my pastor and will be meeting with the church mission board on Tuesday and also talking to the high school youth group tonight!! Overall this process has been humbling, teaching me to not to worry and to let God have control! It feels really good, and I can’t wait to see what else God has in store! So friends keep it coming, God is using you all in powerful ways and never forget that all of this is about HIM not me!! God Bless!!
