I had an idea in my head of how this announcement would look. There would be some great picture of me with a cute sign saying how every single dollar needed to stay on this Race was raised. It would be picture perfect and all would be well. If there’s anything I’ve learned throughout this World Race journey it’s that things don’t go as expected and life isn’t always picture perfect.
I sit here in a Rwandan coffee shop in complete shock. On Monday I needed $4,231 to stay on the field to make it all the way to month 11. I can now say that after one of the longest and most trying seasons of my life, I’m fully funded. God still manages to surprise me.
Last year around this time, the Lord challenged me to set a goal: raise $1,000 in five days. I could not see that happening. How on earth could that much money come in when I would normally get that over the span of an entire month? The Lord did as He always does and showed up. He brought in over $1,000 right before my birthday. The Lord is faithful.
This year, the final deadline came and went and still, I was lacking. I hadn’t seen any movement in my account and personally, life was hard. The Race was hard. I didn’t want to fight and I certainly didn’t want to have to fundraise. It was a huge task for me just getting up to go to ministry that the idea of asking for money was not something I wanted to do. I told God, “If I’m supposed to be here, you need to do something, you need to show up,” and that He did.
Community on the Race has been absolutely incredible. I’ve learned and grown so much because of the people I’m surrounded by. My teammates have been the most loving, grace-filled, Jesus-like people I’ve ever met. They have been the support I’ve needed here overseas. Just as wonderful as this World Race community has been, I’ve had a wonderful community back home supporting me from afar.
Little did I know, my friends back home were rallying support. They gathered the troops and went to work. Because of Jesus through them and their willingness to step out, they helped me raise the last of the money. With the best birthday present I could have asked for, they fought for me when I couldn’t fight for myself. When I was stumbling, they carried me through. My community back home has been absolutely instrumental in this journey and I’m so thankful for them. I knew they were amazing, but seeing them show up even when they didn’t have to was love on a whole new level. I love them so much!
So to every supporter, encourager, and prayer warrior, THANK YOU. Because of you, I get to see this Race through. I get to be part of what the Lord has all over the world… And so do you!!! This race is just as much yours as it is mine! I love you and am eternally grateful for every single one of you!!!
With an extremely grateful heart,
Sam
