Back in Zambia I sent out an email alerting my sponsors and friends that my final deadline was quickly approaching. I had about $1300 left to raise. That was a Friday. On Monday I got internet and checked my support account again. I looked at my balance. I remember being so confused.
The number was bigger than it was on Friday. How the heck can I owe MORE money than I did three days ago?
I showed it to my teammate Wendy. She laughed and said “Stacie that number is positive. That’s money that you have over/beyond the balance.”
I took my phone and stared in disbelief. In just three short days, God had provided $3000. $2000 over the amount needed for my World Race to be fully funded.
Wow.
Wait.
What am I going to do with $2000 that I can’t access?
Then Wendy again. “Stacie, God gave you that money for a reason. You’re going to squad lead or lead a passport.”
“No way.” I said. “That’s crazy.”
It just wasn’t something that was even on my radar. I had other ideas about what I might do after December.
Fast forward to about one month ago. In Thailand, I started thinking about leading a passport trip. I say thinking about it, but it wasn’t a desire I developed on my own. God began placing it on my heart. Passport is a program AIM offers for college age students 18-22 years old. The trips normally last 3 months. Unlike the World Race, where we move to a different country each month and Team Leaders lead a group of peers, I would be a leader for one team of women/men for the entirety of that trip, in one country. There is a list of reasons why I think that’s awesome.
I thought about going in July. I really had my heart set on that. It would give me time to do all the things I want to do. Then I realized I was having déjà vu. That’s exactly what I said about the World Race when I had my mind made up that I would launch in September 2014. God had other plans then. Once again, you guessed it, God had another plan.
And once again, I said YES. Yes to God’s plan. Yes to leading a Passport trip in January 2015.
So I am going back to the nations. (Which means my post race plan was on the right track at least). And this time my ministry will also include, as a priority, a group of college age gals and or guys learning to adjust to life on the missions field, how to serve selflessly, how to live in community and how to love like Jesus. Some of the same things I learned this year. I’m pumped.
And thanks to God’s provision and you answering the call to support me financially, I am fully funded: again!
My financial responsibility to the organization has been met but there are a few other areas I am in need of your help.
1. The most important is of course, your prayer. I don’t know what country I will be placed in yet, but God does. Please pray for traveling mercies, divine appointments and God’s guidance in every word spoken and every step taken. Pray that God would use me and my team to bring salvation and love to the lost. Pray for my team. I don’t know who they are yet, but God does. Pray that I will lead them well. Most of all, that I will lead them to Him. Pray for love. For love to be our focus and priority and through that for everyone we meet to experience His amazing love.
2. Financial support. My trip cost is covered (thank you) but I still need to raise money to cover personal expenses. As I return home I have limited funds that will quickly be gone after traveling from one coast to another to reach my family in South Carolina. If you would like to support me financially, donations can be made through PayPal. My PayPal address is [email protected] (make sure to include the c in the middle 🙂 ). Or checks can be mailed to : Cheryl Fields/917 Red Cedar Court/Hartsville, SC 29550
3. The final thing I am in need of is a listening ear. This year I saw incredible things. Some gorgeous and glorious and some heartbreaking. I have so many stories to share of God’s goodness and the lessons He taught me this year. And I would love to share them with YOU, my friends and supporters. I have roughly six weeks at home before I head out again. If you would like to hear about the crazy, awesome things God has done, i would love to share them with you. The magic word is coffee.
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