Yes yes yes yes yes, it finally happened and it’s finally official: I AM FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a few weeks ago there was a chance I was going to be sent home early. Then I got a phone call from a squad mate that changed everything. Her mom’s business had agreed to fully fund me. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I screamed and jumped and laughed and rolled around with the phone still to my ear laughing and giggling in awe. I didn’t even know what to say. It was one of those moments when the words “Thank You” seemed so simple and insignificant. Why do we use the same two words when someone passes us the butter at the breakfast table and when someone speaks to a board of directors and donates $1,500 on behalf of an organization? “Thank You” just didn’t seem like enough.
How can I even express my gratitude? And I’m not just talking about my gratitude towards the company that gave the final donation to fully-fund me, but every single person who donated along the way. The people who dropped a few dollars in the bin when I was selling cupcakes after church last year. The person who gave me my very first donation back in 2013 –the confirmation that I was supposed to go on the World Race. The people who have continued to encourage me throughout the fundraising process. The friends who have taken what they had in their small bank accounts and supported me. The family members near and far who have believed in me. The prayers you have lifted up for me. The people in my squad who contacted their friends and family and have asked them to support me, even while many of them were also fundraising. The God who orchestrated all of these hearts to move so that I could be here, right now, writing these words of gratitude.
THANK YOU. Because I cannot put it into any other words.
Love always,
Raquel
PS: For your entertainment (and mine), here are a few random stats about my fundraising process:
I received a total of 115 different donations from 65 different people and organizations.
25.12% of donations were from anonymous donors
24.58% of donations were from people I have never met
24.10% of donations were from people I knew
The remaining 26.20% were donations from family, myself, and fundraisers
For those who thought their donations were “too small,” I am pleased to inform you that all the donations I received that were $19 or less added up to $220. And all donations $24 or under added up to $420. See? No donation is too small.
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