AIM is less than a month away from buying me a ticket home. I have been given an ultimate final deadline.
I am $4,900 away from being fully funded. The official deadline to have 100% of my financial support was July 1st –last week. I am merely at 70%. AIM gives grace, though, so they have extended my deadline and given me a more attainable goal:
I have to raise $1,000 between now and July 22nd,
and another $1,000 between then and July 31st.
If I don’t raise those $2,000 before August 1st, they are buying me a ticket home.
The money we raise goes to cover the cost of transportation, lodging, and food for the entirety of the 11 months we are away. If that money isn’t in, they can’t pay for our transportation, lodging, or food. The organization can’t afford to keep me on the field if I don’t receive the support I need.
I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about going home early before. The World Race is an uncomfortable adventure that is far from the paradisiac vacation that most people think it is when they see our colorful Instagram pictures and fun Facebook statuses. The World Race is hard. It stretches you and pulls you and grows you in uncomfortable ways. You can’t choose your community or the conditions of your living situation. However, you can choose your attitude. Of all the times I’ve considered giving up and going home, I have chosen to stay. I have chosen to stay because I believe there is something greater ahead, and I believe God has called me to be here for a reason. His plans are greater than mine –after all, He has ages of experience in the event planning department. So I stay, and I fight.
I am asking you to pray about supporting me. Pray for me, pray for my squad, and pray about donating. If you feel God calling you to give, you can click HERE for online donations, or mail a check to Adventures In Missions, PO Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374. Make checks payable to “Adventures In Missions” and please write “Appealed by StewartRaquel” on the memo line so that it gets credited to my account!
I am not the only person on my squad who is in need. A number of us are still short of being fully funded. If you also feel led to support other people on my squad, I invite you to check out their blogs for their stories (I have starred those who have the biggest need as of July 8th):
Amanda Abla
Jackie Bakalarski
Taylor Blankstein
Jourdan Boyd*
April Claybaugh
Caroline Daly
Jan Carlo Del Valle*
Christina Eichler
Isaiah Fogle
Julie Haag*
Kim Harris*
Paul Kirkland*
Kehinde Omisore*
Ramon Tavarez*
Edwin Yau
Thank you for reading. Thank you for your interest in what God is doing in my life this year. Please keep us all in your prayers!!!!
You are greatly loved.
