My friend Kat moved to India for Discipleship school. She felt like the Lord called her there for this next year. So she started raising support well in advance to make this journey happen. I remember when I met Kat, we were both leading at “The Feast” (working with inner city kids on Friday evening). She was full of life and joy. I love that about her, she is always smiling and happy no matter what is happening. She truly carries the love of Jesus and his joy where she goes.
So in the midst of raising funds Kat was nearing her last month in Waco and still hadn’t met her goal. If she did not meet this goal she was not allowed to step foot on the plane to leave. I remember praying over her funds and asking God for breakthrough as she cried with a smile on her face. Though everything was telling her to be discouraged, she chose joy and faith! Then that next week, boom! People had joined her support team! She was going to be leaving Waco right on time with the rest of her team.
Then the unthinkable happened…(I’ll come back to this in a minute)
Many people have asked if I am excited, nervous or just a mix of emotions. I thought this would be a good place to answer that question. When I applied for the world race, I thought I knew what it was like to hit the ground running. Well let me tell you, raising funds IS “the race” (haha, not really but it feels like it). I applied and a week later I was told I was going and I needed to meet deadlines. I remember that day, a month ago sitting in my office literally about to jump out of myself. I was so excited!!!! Then I started looking at the $16,962 that I would have to raise. It’s daunting to even think about how to get that much money. I started working that night on newsletters and getting them out. I would say after that night, I have been pretty emotionless for the most part. I am a post griever which means that until I get on that plane or my bags are packed I will most likely be in task mode. I have waves of excitement that are accompanied with sadness. The pains of leaving home, family, friends, church, work and my Crossfit family. I am excited to die to myself but I am also terrified. Growing in deeper intimacy with Jesus, means dying to ourselves. Ultimately that is what I want, to be more like Jesus.
I think most people probably see someone raising funds and they think to themselves, “they will make it and the funds will come in. Good for them.” The reality is that I can’t do this without you. I do believe that the funds will come in but it won’t be without obedient people of God that are praying and asking how they can or if they should join my team in some capacity. This experience has taught me so much about myself. It has been a process of sacrifice and trust.
If I am honest, so far the biggest sacrifice and hardest has been giving up Crossfit (to some extent). I am someone who is all in or all out. It literally hurts that I can’t be at Crossfit every day. Thankfully I have been able to work some things out and make it 2 days a week. I almost cried a week ago because I just wanted to be able to come every day again. #strugglebus
BUT, He is worth the sacrifice. He is worth the pain of not having what I want so that I can do what he has called me to.
I have never been on ‘support’ like all missionaries are. There is a place in my heart now that has so much compassion for people who are raising funds, so they can walk in their calling. It is NOT easy and it is a place of obedience and trusting in your dad. So this past week was my first deadline of $3,900. I didn’t quite make it, I was about $800 short. Thankfully there has been leniency with that and I am still chipping away. I will be leaving for training camp in 2 weeks.
So back to Kat (see what I did there?).
At my church we tend to send people out who are leaving for the nations. The India group was being sent out so I went to give hugs and pray over a few people. Kat happened to be one of those people. I was expecting to talk to a girl who had seen the impossible happen but when I talked to her things had gone from, “fully funded” to the exact opposite.
A few of her biggest supporters were no longer able to support her for the year. This was now the second time this had happened to her in her journey of raising funds. She was given 7 DAYS to raise over $3,000 to meet her goal, or she wasn’t going.
Let’s pause for a moment….how do you think you would respond if that happened to you? YOU ONLY HAVE 7 DAYS TO COME UP WITH $3,000 +. You have knocked on all the doors you have, and you see only discouragement in front of you. Kat literally needed a miracle. She needed Jesus to show up in a big way, or she was not going to be leaving Waco.
Fast forward to 2 weeks later (this weekend) I am at a friends and I am in tears, feeling discouraged that I didn’t meet my first deadline and I starting to feel the attacks of the enemy on my mind. I had kept a good attitude and felt joyful in spirit until Saturday. So as I am talking to Ashley about how I have no idea how I’ll raise the rest for my second deadline, she says:
Ash: “Did you hear what happened to Kat??!?!?”
Me: “No, I heard she went but have no idea how that happened.”
Ash: “Well the night before they were leaving for India she still hadn’t raised the funds and they went to a worship night. Kat was called on stage and given a duffel bag of cash and checks that totaled her amount. (as she wept on stage) She left the next day for India.”
Me:…WHAT, thank you Jesus! *sobbing*
Wow, GOD!!!! Forgive me for putting you in a box and forgetting that you can do whatever you want with your money. You own it all and you are sovereign. I was made for victory and that is where I will stand. The enemy tries to convince us that we will not make it or that God won’t show up. Well that is a lie! Our dad is completely captivated with each one of us and is on board for the journey. He doesn’t jump ship when things get rough! In fact, in the bible he literally was sleeping in a terrible storm while everyone was freaking out. They were freaking out so much that he had to come up stairs and calm the storm!
Our dad CALMS the storms for us. He is omnipresent and he knows exactly what he is doing. I don’t know about you, but Kat’s story raised my faith level. I am feeling so encouraged by what God did in her life and I can’t wait to see how he shows up in mine!
As I press on towards Training camp, I am starting to realize this is real. I am about to meet 50 people that I don’t know and 9 of them I will be with 24/7 for 11 months.
So here is a financial update:
We are on to the second Deadline: 12-18-15 I need a total of $10,000. I am shooting for $14,000. (My personal goal, because by February I have to be at 13,000 or they will send me home off the race and April fully funded to $16,962)
As you know, my backpack is my home for a year! I need help filling it with little things that are cheap and easy to buy but they do add up. I have spent my savings on my big items (backpack, front pack, mattress, tent etc).
I wanted to invite you guys to help me get these items. I would SO appreciate your help rounding things up! My launch date is January 7th or 8th! CRAZY!!!!!
LIST:
- Crest Tooth paste (1 big bottle/3 travel size)
- Big bottle of Advil or some kind of anti-inflammatory. (Idc if its off brand)
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Deet
- Sharpies
- Duct tape (small with cute design so I can label items)
- Nalgene (2)
- Dryer sheets (1 box)
- Headphones (I’ve been told to have 2)
- Baby powder
- Deodorant (secret..smells good)
- Q-tips
- Floss
- Dyquil
- Nyquil
- Benadryl
- Mosquito net
- XL quick dry towel
- Hair ties (black)
- Bobby pins (brown)
- Water proof watch
If you are interested in doing this, just shoot me a text or a private message over Facebook. You guys rock!!!! I wish I had words for the feelings inside my heart for the ways I have been supported by all of you!
Over & out,
Lynzie
