In October of 2014 I took the first step of a crazy, crazy, crazy journey. I had to raise $12,480 and I was daunted. I know how big our God is, but also I wanted to have an anxiety attack. What if I didn’t raise the funds I needed? I tried to remember the verses from Matthew’s book:
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Easier said than done though, right? My beautiful English teacher then shared this verse from James 1 with me:
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
God spoke to me a lot through this one. While on one hand I truly believe God would provide, I still doubted. However, God showed up – like always -and rocked my world. I can now say with almost as much excitement as I did when I was first accepted, that I am fully funded for the World Race Gap Year 2015-2016. Not only is my trip paid for, but I’ve also received the funds for my necessary gear and even my (ridiculously) expensive vaccines! PRAISE GOD! I could in no way have done this without the incredible incredible incredible people from my church, family, and school. One of my friends at church (who also just completed fundraising for a trip) shared this verse from Philippians. I think it beautifully summarizes how I feel about those who donated $1 to my trip and those who donated $2,000 to my mission.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
I will hold all of you in my heart on the field, knowing that with every person whose life God allows me to touch, it is because you all have first touched my life. Thank you for helping me complete these steps of preparation for my journey and know that with every step I take on the field, you take it with me.
I love you all!
