As month three rolls around I know I'm not the only one who is thinking about finances. Its on alot of our minds. Some look at our dealines with dread, others with expectant hope.
Me? Well now, I'm somewhere in the middle. I was so worried about finances comming through before I left for the Race but in all reality God always came through. Many times when It seemed all hope was lost. So I had no doubt in my mind God had me on the Race for a reason.
But you know how thoughts go. They sneek in sometimes before you even know you've thought them. I started thinking, "what if God only called me for 3 months?" And I started getting discouraged. Because I know I'm not done here.
So that was on my mind for that day, and I even had some conversations with my team mates about finances and where we all were but I was still bothered by that nagging feeling of "I didn't do enough before I left", "I should have sent more letters, called more churches." But I didn't have much time to dwell on it because we had a jobs to do here on the compound, and as my team knows, there is always work to be done around here. 🙂
So I went on to do my job of helping in the kitchen. And I was working with a lady named Mrs Joy. And in all reality she is a joy. She has been a missionary to Thailand for many years and definately knows the meaning of sacrifice.
We were just working and talking together and she asked many questions about the World Race and I asked about Thailand and we were just having a good time. Then she asked a common question, "how do you raise the funds?" "Do you have to raise them or do you just get sent?"
Totally a harmless question but it put finances on my mind again. So I shared how I had raised what I had so far and where I was and how much I still needed. But as I talked with her about it, I felt less worried about the deadline and more trusting of God's plans. So I went away with a boost in faith. Good ending to the story right? But there was more….more than I could ever even ask or expect…..
The next day I was gearing up for cleaning dutys, like any other day. I had just put on a fresh pair of gloves when I felt an arm aroung me and heard Mrs Joys voice. And she was scooping me away for a moment and hearding me off toward the kitchen. So I shot a quick backglance to my team mates to let them know I'd be right back and I was just as confused as they were.
So when Mrs Joy got me alone she took me to her backpack and placed an envelope in my hands. I looked at her confused. She smiled and then got solem.
She told me that her mother had died and left her some inheritance money and that God had put it on her heart to share some of that with me…. WHAT?!?! ok needless to say I was touched. I couldn't get my words to form. But I did manage a "are you sure?" And she was. She said she belived in me. And then gave me strict instructions not to tell anyone till I left Australia.
To be honest..when I think about it I'm still blown away. I mean she is a missionary too! She knows how it is to raise funds and then pour them out on people who may or may not recieve you. She knows how unflashy the life is but she gave. She is in process right now to raise money to go back to Thailand. She could have used that money for her trip or even for her retirement, but no. She chose to give her earthly inheiritance for one that won't fade. Her gift was not in no way unnoticed by heaven. This woman has the right prospective on life. Wow I know I'm convicted. I know I often store up stuff in the wrong barn, the earthly one. Hers wont fade. And I pray "God bless her even more and more."
I wrote this blog as a praise report/challenge. To thank God and Mrs Joy and challenge myself and readers to have a new prospective. Thank yall for reading and being apart of my journey. And also thank everyone who has given to me, becasue without you I could not be here doing the things I love.
