There is a lot that goes into preparing for the World Race. There’s the long list of to-do’s for the year that you’re going to be away: two teeth cleanings, buying birthday and Christmas gifts for the holiday’s you’re going to miss, buying a years worth of cat food for your beloved little kitten so that your family doesn’t have to dish out their own cash for your pet. There’s the list of to-do’s for the things you aren’t going to need: canceling your car insurance, cutting off your phone, canceling your magazine subscriptions. There’s the list of to-do’s for every little thing you have to accomplish before you leave: getting a Visa, choosing a power of attorney, writing your will (just incase), writing countless letters to your friends and family. There’s the list of to-do’s for all the things you will need for the next year: buying your gear (which calls for hours spent in REI chitchatting with the extremely smart, hippie-minded, avid hiking, outdoorsy lovers who know all there is to know about the four most important things in their vocabulary – your pack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and shoes – and all of the other things too – tent, daypack, wool socks, drylite towels. There’s the list of doctor appointments to get all of your immunizations, and the other list of doctors offices you must call to get your records so that you aren’t getting shots you’ve already had. There’s the list of things you want to do before you leave but won’t have enough time for: deep cleaning your bedroom, taking fun vacations with your little sisters and best friends, reading the entire Bible, going to dinner with everyone in your contacts. If you’re already exhausted, prepare yourself. The lists are only the beginning.
You must also prepare prayerfully, physically, emotionally, spiritually – which is no small feat. How can you prepare for something when you aren’t even sure what you’re going to be doing? You try to prepare yourself in every aspect at the same time and find yourself in tears because you are so tired and overwhelmed. And lastly, you must prepare financially. You must raise or pay, in some way, shape or form, $20,000 – give or take a couple hundred. Even as I sit here typing this, I look at the number the same way I looked at it from the first day I committed to go on the World Race. Wow. I can’t even count to 20,000 by hundreds. At least I wouldn’t want to. But the way I process the number has changed. On that first day, and the first couple months really, I asked the question, “How can I raise $20,000 in 6 months so that I can be fully funded before I leave?” But today, I have the answer – “I can’t. Only God can.”
Right before my last mission trip to Peru around Christmas, God showed me that having faith is the answer to obtaining anything I need. When I try to do it myself, it can’t be done – there’s always problems. But when I hand it over to God and say, “Okay God, I can’t afford it on my own, so thank you for providing my flight to Peru,” a distant family member contacts you and says, “I want to buy your flight to Peru.” Yep. Just like that He provides.
Fast forward two months. I’m 4% funded for the Race, discouraged, getting attacked by the devil, overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. I post a blog titled “I Need Prayer,” which got more than 1400 views compared to the usual 200ish. Now, I’m not sure that all 1400 prayed for me. But, even if 400 of them didn’t, 1000 of them did. And just like that, along with the prayers and encouragement from my squad, family and friends, God restored my faith. The anxiety and fear left, I slept through a whole night for the first time in three weeks and I knew that God was going to provide because He called me to go on the Race himself.
Just about a week later, a beautiful and God-fearing friend of mine told me that she felt like God had laid it on her heart to donate to my trip. Her first donation was $100, which humbled me so much as she is my age, in college, and is fighting her own set of battles. But then, she told me that God was working out a plan of financial support with her that she wasn’t completely sure about yet, which later turned in to donating her tax refund to my Race. She had told me that it would be $500. So the time came and she told me to keep an eye out for her donation to process – she donated $897 + $25 from her mom. She matched all the money I had in my account. I cannot even express the feeling seeing that number gave me. All I kept thinking is, “Wow, her obedience is something else.” She felt that God was telling her to sow a seed into my Race, so she obeyed Him and did it. I’m a huge believer in “You’ll reap what you sow,” so I know God is going to bless her abundantly. That night, and for many days following, I prayed that God would give me an opportunity to obey Him financially. I had already been obedient with my tithes and offerings, but I wanted the obedience to make a difference. I wanted it to put a dent in my wallet, not just scratch it.
Well, it didn’t take long for Him to answer. My mom had been away at flight attendant school for about a month and got to come home for a weekend. So I picked her up from the airport and we went to breakfast. Naturally, we began talking about the Race. She mentioned that a girl in her class had a sorority sister who is currently on the Race. She couldn’t remember her name and then finally said, “It’s something like Sarah Hill,*” and I replied, “You mean Samantha Hill?*” “Yes, yes, that’s her.” I knew because since I committed to go on the Race, I’ve subscribed to countless amounts of Racer’s blogs and Instagram’s. All future Racer’s do – it gives us some sort of expectation or a hint to things we may encounter on our own journeys. So I shared Samantha’s* pictures with my mom and we discussed how awesome the Race is going to be.
That was Saturday. On Monday morning, I was sitting at my desk at work scrolling through Instagram. If you follow Racer’s, you know it’s not uncommon to see them post pictures or blogs informing their friends, family, supporters and followers that they are short of funds and will be sent home if the money doesn’t come in by their next deadline. I don’t mean this in a negative or selfish way, but I’ve never felt God telling me to donate to any Racer’s account when I’ve seen one of those posts. I always pray about it, but He had never given me peace about it. But on this particular morning, Samantha Hill* posted a picture with a caption explaining that she needed $3,000 by March 31. That was about two weeks away. Immediately, I knew God was telling me she was the one. She was the Racer I was supposed to support. So I said, “Alright God, how much do you want me to give her?” I started thinking of numbers but wasn’t given the answer. In my mind, I was thinking I would donate $100, but I never felt peace about it.
So occasionally, I also work at a restaurant a couple nights a week. On that same day, a coworker of mine sent out a message asking someone to work for her. I was already at my full-time job, tired and didn’t have my work clothes with me. “No, I’m not working tonight,” I said to myself. But almost immediately, God told me differently. “Work tonight and give all the money you make to Samantha.*” I couldn’t say no – He answered my prayer. “Thanks God. I will.” So I picked up the shift, asked my Pawpaw to meet me at the restaurant with my clothes, and went to work. I made $91. “I’ll just add $9 so that I can give her $100,” I told myself at the end of the shift. “No you won’t,” God chimed in. I argued with Him the whole drive home. “Why not? It’s $9.” “Because I told you what to give. Just give what you made.” “But WHY?” I literally screamed out loud. The argument continued and at this point, I would say I began disobeying God. So He taught me another lesson. “Alright Racquel, if you want to give her more, then give her all the money you make during your shift tomorrow night, too.” I laughed. “You would, God. You couldn’t just let me give her $9, you have to ask me to give her another whole night’s income.” But without arguing more, I agreed.
The next night I went into work knowing all the money I made from serving was going to Samantha,* so I thought I was going to struggle financially the rest of the week. It was a pretty busy Tuesday night and we had big sections, so the money was coming in. This was also St. Patricks Day, so a bunch of my coworkers wanted to get out of work early and drink. So, two of my friends I work with asked me if I would do their sidework (clean their sections, roll their silverware, and do their back of house responsibilities) if they paid me. I needed the money since I was giving Samantha* all the money I made while working, so I agreed to do it. Between them, they gave me $80. “Yes!” I thought to myself. “I’m still going to leave here with $80.” Without even taking another breath, God stepped in. “No you’re not. That money isn’t yours. I told you to give all of the money you made tonight to Samantha.* “You’re right,” I smiled. “That’s 80 more dollars for her Race.” It took me 2 1/2 hours to complete mine and my friends closing work, but at the end of the night, I was able to put $283 in Samantha’s* World Race account. I was beside myself. God opened the doors for me to make $192 on a Tuesday night, in 6 hours to be exact – that never happens. Ever.
How amazing is our God? Seriously. I just cannot wrap my mind around the fact that I asked for a chance to be obedient to Him financially and He answered and not only gave it to me, but also taught me a lesson: that if you work for Him, He will provide everything you need.
The following weekend I had my first big fundraiser – a gospel concert in which I was able to share this story with everyone in the audience. And wouldn’t you know, that night, almost $2,800 was raised. 10 fold of what I gave. The next weekend, I had a doughnut sale and profited $1,500. And two weeks after that I had a BBQ, which raised $5,000 – $3,000 donated to me by one person. Sow from your heart and you will reap abundantly.
In just 6 weeks, I went from being 4% funded to 61% funded. All because of my faith and the obedience of other believers. Doubt doesn’t exist in my mind anymore. God’s providing the money for my World Race and guess what? He may use YOU to help fund it. Please pray and consider donating to my journey around the world to spread Christ’s love and grace. You will be blessed by choosing to obey what God is asking you to do. I still have $6,000 to raise before I am funded to go, and $10,000 before I am fully funded – including all of my gear and money to live during the year I am away.
I still have much to do in preparation for the Race, but I know who’s doing the preparing. His name starts with a G.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” • 2 Corinthians 9:6
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” • Luke 6:38
*The name has been changed to respect the privacy of the Racer
