Praise God im done worrying about
funds! I just wanted to take you back for a moment with me, through the
financial miracle that Gods worked this year-
First let me say that its really a
miracle that I’m even on this race. To go you are required to raise 14,300
dollars to cover food, travel, lodging, etc, cost for this year. When
considering the race, I actually laughed out loud at the thought of going- at
the HUGE cost, at the impossibility of raising that kind of money. To make
matters worse I felt called to the June race- in April. I wasn’t accepted until
the end of April- through Gods grace, and a sense of urgency- and then started
fundraising a short 4 weeks before training camp. Between fundraising, moving
out of my apartment, and trying to get the things I needed to leave, I was a
frantic mess. At least 3 fundraisers (I thought were in the bag) failed
miserably, after 50-100 support letters with little response- things looked bleak. For
weeks I had zero donations. My account literally said $0.
The week before training camp came
and I had 1 committed monthly donor of $25. I knew that God wanted me to go,
and if that was his will then he would pay for it- but things were getting a
little scary. I had somewhere around $1000 in my support account. Then 2 days before
I left for training camp I got a phone call from the finance dept at AIM saying
that if I didn’t have $4,000 in or headed to my support account that day (by
4pm Eastern time) that I wouldn’t be allowed to come to camp, and that I should
start praying about a different race. I informed them that I was going to pray
about this race, and I would call them at 4. I think it was at that moment
(after I got off the phone) I had a come to Jesus meeting. I realized that I just
wasn’t able to bring in that kind of money- but God could. I got on my knees,
told God if this is what he wanted help me, and if I didn’t bring in the money I
would know it wasn’t his will for me to go. Me and my mom prayed over 7 support
letters, and off I went.
Guess what? God came through! 6
hours, 8 stops, and many phone calls later exactly $4000 was on its way to my
account. I have been continually amazed at the way God has provided me with
EVERYTHING I needed for this trip (and even a few things that were just for
comfort like an Ipod- thanks Matt!) I had people donate camping equipment, a
laptop, a pack, money to get my vaccinations,- Absolutely everything I needed.
I realized the more I leaned on Him, the more he came through.
So off to training camp I went, then on to the
race a short 2 weeks later. For the first couple months of the race money was
coming in slowly, but not surely enough. Month 4 I was asked to step out of
ministry to fundraise, in order to meet what was now a “hard deadline” which
meant if I didn’t meet it I would be sent home to raise enough money to come
back onto the field. I was several thousand away from the goal and only a few
weeks away. I decided to get creative- ideas like putting my story in the news
paper (Thanks Coweta American) and eating Matumbo (cow guts) if I raised enough
money- which I did. Gross- by the way. After months of phone calls, being “in
the red”, deadlines, and near misses- It’s December and my final deadline-
which if you guessed is a “hard deadline.”
brings me to the present- which is exactly that. I’ve had so many amazing
friends and family back home- doing fundraisers for me, donating whatever they
could. I have been really surprised by the young people that have been so
committed to giving. But after everything, along with those who’ve said they
would do monthly donations for the next few months- IM FULLY FUNDED! Praise
God! Now I don’t have to worry about getting another “you could be sent home”
phone call, and I can concentrate on ministry!
You guys are an amazing blessing to me. I hope you know what
a difference you’ve made around the world. Those who freely give, freely receive.
Be blessed!
