Some people on my squad were fully funded before we even left the states. Some people became fully funded within the first few months of being on the race. I’ve been fundraising for approximately 18 months now. I’ve done bake sales and yard sales and mailed letters and asked on facebook. If I know you (or even if I don’t), I’ve probably asked for your support sometime this year.
All of my best efforts to get fully funded didn't quite work out how I'd hoped, and I think that was quite a hit to my pride. A few days ago I told God that I'm done fundraising. I asked Him to make a miracle happen so that I wouldn't go home indebted to AIM but honestly didn't expect it to happen. I had it in my mind that I'd be sending my first paycheck in to the WR and I was ok with that because I believe in the commitment I made and in being a person of integrity who finishes what they start. I even told someone "I think sometimes God provides by giving you an outlet to work hard for something," and their response was "Maybe…but I really feel that the Lord wants to show you how He's your provider, not because He has to be, but because He loves you."
And then I got an email. I got an email from a guy I don’t know, who has no connections to me who said he’d like to pay off the rest of my World Race account; not because he likes my blogs or because I’d done anything cool, but just because he wanted to help and encourage a random world racer.
I’m going home in one week. In one week the world race will be over. I don’t know where I will live or where I will work. I will have about $12 to my name. Student loans will kick back in, my car needs to go to the shop, and I don’t have a cell phone. Last year, those sentences would have overwhelmed me to the point of a full-blown anxiety attack. But right now, I feel okay. None of that sounds scary.
It just sounds like a place for God to show up.
He has been showing me lately how faithful He is, and teaching me to be more focused on where He has me today, trusting that He'll bring things about in steps as small or big as He see's fit.
Today is thanksgiving. If you’re a part of my life, I am thankful for you.
And I am thankful that God is faithful, even when I am faithless.
And I am thankful that I got to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with 40 friends who feel more like family.
[friendsgiving]
