When I was accepted to the World Race, fundraising was my biggest concern. How would I be able to raise that much money? But the Lord has provided in ways that have humbled me and I am in awe of His greatness. But over these last couple months, fundraising ended up not being my only concern.
Psalm 55:22 says “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalm 37:4-5 says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”
These verses are some of the few that I turned to these last few weeks. Some of you may have heard about my process in getting a passport, but it’s been quite the challenge.
I was accepted into the World Race on April 6th and on April 8th I took all my information along with copies to the post office to apply for my passport. I was excited because I was just in time to order my passport without having to expedite it—come April 13th I would have to.
Well… I get to the front desk and the cashier tells me that that office doesn’t do passport applications. I didn’t get too discouraged because I figured I’d just drive to the one that did them, but when I asked which office that would be she then tells me I have to have a passport appointment. So I get the number and I make the call but it goes to an automated voicemail and three days later I finally hear back. Their first available appointment is May 13th…
May 13th?! Yes, that’s right. It was a month after my deadline for non-expediting my passport. So, I accepted the appointment and went on with other things that needed to be done for the WR. When May 13th came, I was ready. I had already gotten my passport pictures taken and so I brought my information to the right post office and I’m excited because I’m finally going to get the application in.
I get there and I’m laying everything out for the application… and I forgot my birth certificate… In fact I had completely forgotten in that month that it was needed. Needless to say I could not submit my application that day. I went home and I searched through boxes I’d already packed for my move and finally found my birth certificate. I’m then having to call the passport agency back to get a new appointment and they yet again did not answer. This time though they didn’t even call me back.
So I did my research and found a passport office in Winston Salem that accepted applications without appointment. At this point its the first of June and I have to get this application submitted. So I drive to Winston Salem and find out it is none other than Winston Salem University and have to find parking amongst an event that is going on. I finally get a parking spot and I start walking trying to find a person or a sign that will tell me where to go. When I do find someone I realize I’ve parked on the wrong side of campus and have to walk across the entire campus to the passport office. But I make it to the office and there’s already a line. I get about half way through the line and one of the administration workers sees that I have a Virginia drivers license. She asks me if I have a student id with me otherwise I can’t get my application submitted.
I didn’t have my student id in my wallet and had to run all the way to my car—thankfully it was there—and back. The people behind me in line had graciously held my spot for me and so when I returned I was just in time to be called up. As I’m submitting my application, I decide I don’t need to expedite the application because after all I’ll still get it before August. So I went with non-expedite even though it was long past April 13th.
Well I found out June 7th from my WR mobilizer that I needed my passport info submitted by June 10th or I would have to defer to another route.
At this point I kind of went into a state of shock. I didn’t want to have to defer my route to January. I talked to my mobilizer and she let me know that I had 2-3 weeks to get my passport in and if not I’d need to defer.
I talked to my squadmates and asked them for prayer and found out that my squadmate Ruby (who lives in Lynchburg) was in the same boat as I. We both did not like the idea of having to defer routes, but gave the whole situation to God because we knew that we needed to go where He led.
It was in this long week and a half that these passages filled my time with the Lord. I realized that I have to be willing to go where God wants me to go and be used where He wants me to be used. And even as I asked some friends to pray for Ruby and I and prayed myself I knew that whatever the Lord brought about I would be joyful.
Well last Thursday I received my passport in the mail TWO WEEKS early! And last Friday Ruby received her passport in the mail TWO WEEKS EARLY!!
God is so good. His plans for us are for His glory and it makes me so much more excited for this mission trip. I know that there are still many challenges I have to face in front of me in these next four months. From fundraising to buying the necessary gear to getting important information in order, etc. But God provides for our every need and just like He provided me with my passport, He will provide me with the necessary funds for both this trip and my gear.
But more so than this, I know that the Lord is already at work in me and the people around me. He has taught me so much in these past 2 1/2 months and brought me closer to Him. So in these next few months that separate me from launching I will be praying daily for the people that my squad will encounter and for the missionaries that are already working with them. I will be praying daily for my squad and that the Lord will work in our hearts, preparing us for this journey, as well as for us to stay focused on Him so that we do not lose sight of the reason we are going which is to glorify Him and spread His name. Will you join me in praying for myself and squad mates?
I want to personally thank everyone of you. I truly can not do this without you all. It is your prayers, encouragement, support and generosity that is allowing me to be able to go.
And it is all of this that allows me to say that I am 50% funded.
There is still a long way to go! I still have to raise $8000 and I can’t do that without all of you. If you feel led to give and join my team, please do not hesitate or wait. You can donate online by clicking the donate link at the top of this page.
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and does not take a bribe” Deuteronomy 10:17
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:8-9
Till Next Time,
Kara Faber
~ 50 Days till Training Camp!!
~ 102 Days till Launch!!
