I’ll be honest..I love to save. I love bargaining. I love getting a good deal. I love getting my tax back. I love being debt free. I love being independent and I don’t like asking people for money.
(E.g. of getting a good deal (bag) at the HK markets)
Being accepted to take part in the World Race has had its challenges, but not in the funding area. For the past three years, I have been able to work as a full-time teacher, live at home (since it was 5 minutes away from my school) and save enough money to travel for the past 3.5 months, get myself to America for training camp, stick around the States for a month and a half before launch, fund $15,500 for this mission trip which covers all the logistics (flight, accommodation and food) and then have extra money to go where God calls me to go after this trip.
I’m a logistics girl so I budgeted, saved and expected the $15,500 to cover everything for the trip. Little did I know I would be spending another thousands of dollars on:
- India VISA – $76 (covered) + an extra $124 for being an Australian citizen and needing to express post my passport back to Melbourne then back to America just in time for launch.
- Other VISA’s I would need as an Australian citizen, different (costs) to Americans.
- Tent ($45), Tarp – as a footprint ($4), Sleeping Pad ($45), Sleeping Bag ($75), Mosquito Net ($35), Headlamp ($30), Money belt ($16) and Backpack covers
- Travel Insurance for the WR ($300), Vaccinations & Meds ($1000)
- Possibly replacing my stolen iPhone ($350)
- Replacing two waterproof cameras ($170 + $160)
- Replacing my pre-scripted glasses ($100)
- Extra things throughout my trip – replacing toiletries, replacing stolen or lost goods, phone coverage, travelling to other places on my days off or ministry needs: joyfully tithing, feeding the poor, buying clothes for the naked, possibly buying out prostitutes etc. (est. average of $100 a month = $1100)
A HUGE part of me just wants to fund all of this by myself, using the extra money I have saved for after the race because I’ve always been financially independent. However, every time I feel like I’ve got everything under control or not want to post this, God seems to put me into situations where I would lose things and then need to spend more money on replacing them or missing a bus so I would need to pay extra for a replacement ticket. Reading Matthew 6:24b – “You cannot serve both God and money” and imagining the possibility of being poor scares me but seeing God provide time and time again for all my other squad mates in their journey of fundraising $15,500 is so incredible and makes me feel like I’ve missed out on crucial part of seeing God expand my faith radically.
So as hard as it is for me to let go of my financial independence, I am humbly allowing God to magnify my faith as I see Him touch the hearts of people who may be reading this blog, giving them His heart to financially support my extra needs so I can do an good job at serving the kingdom of God and reaching those who have yet to know the amazing love and grace that Jesus offers. Please pray about it first and if you feel led to give, you can do it through Paypal to [email protected] or through my AUS bank account (ask me for details).
Thank you for reading this and I praise Jesus in advance for what He is about to do through you.
