During Cambodia I did a fundraiser that did not go as well as I hoped or thought. In my head I was thinking this fundraiser would get me close to the deadline. For every $200 I got the children we were with would put a pie in my face; sounds great, right. With this event I got maybe $500 (you can see me getting pied in my Cambodia highlight video.) I was still short about $1,500 from the deadline. I was scared I was going to go home. I got an email from Chris Scott our squads coach saying he will extend my deadline and show me grace. He believed that the Lord had something for me. At the end of Malaysia he would decide if I would go home or not. I was ecstatic bit not sure how to go about it. Starting over (so to speak) on fundraising was not my idea of fun.
I rewrote a letter along with my Thailand highlight video and sent it to almost everyone in my facebook contacts. Once I sent it out to that person I followed up within a few days. Responses? The same as before a no or no answer. Each week I had to send Chris a weekly email on how fundraising was going. All this started in Malaysia, the month that the Lord shook my world! Jesus tore my foundation down & rebuilt a new one!
At the end of the month I was getting responses back and was getting some support other than my monthly support. I was for sure going home cause I was still short about $1,150. The email came from Chris, all right folks this is the news that I’m bound for America. Going home was not what I read. Squad leader Zach told Chris what happened in Malaysia. Chris was letting me stay! He wanted to try to be fully funded by the deadline which is March 1st. I had to keep sending weekly emails, fundraising, & askingseeking the Lord to provide. Things turned around once we landed in Japan things started changing. I got an email from a squad mates sister that their church was to support $750. This puts me about about $500 under a five digit number.
Through out Japan I was hearing yes for support but did not see anything. I was wanting to give up cause it seemed no one wanted me overseas. The Lord was telling something different. Halfway through the month I finally reached five numbers of $10,000! Alright only $6,200 to go. I was still seeking the Lord that he would provide everything I need to finish this race. A day before we left for debreif I got another donation but this one made my heart stop. It was $1,000! Let that number sink it for a bit $1,000. It got me excited and knew the Lord was wanting me to stay, teaching me along the way.
During fundraising thus far I was learning how to fully trust and rely on the Lord, patience in knowing that he knew what he was doing, and that his timing is beyond perfect cause we learn from it. With what God taught me we should do this in everything we do not with something you think the Lord wants you. Everything should done for the glory of God. His way is so much better than ours and knows what is best for us. With what we are going through ask the Lord daily to provide and may his will be done. What joy comes from trusting in the Lord! During fundraising the first month in Eastern Europe I got an email that made time stand still for just a moment.
