Its less then 5 days until training camp. God has taken a huge weight off my shoulders by allowing me to meet my first deadline, $3,500. Last week I was more then a thousand dollars short. I was pretty certain January 2013 was out of the question. I truly thank all of you who are partnering with me on this ministry! I really never knew what was possible through Him, and I’m still learning everyday.

Witnessing A Miracle

Last weekend, I stood at $2,300 raised. I’ve put every penny I had into the World Race and buying all my gear and supplies for training camp. Jordynn and I had signed up for a booth at an art festival on Harbour Island for Sunday. With lots of prayer in the morning I was hoping the day would be really successful. God had other plans, he wanted to teach us a big lesson. Lets back up one second, Saturday night, Jordynn had gone to the FSU/USF football game to have some quality time with her dad. I felt a nasty feeling. I knew something wasn’t right, she never ignores my text messages. Fast forward, Sunday morning (an hour before our event) I get a frantic phone call from a number I don’t recognize, it’s Jordynn. “My purse is missing, my phone is missing, the $500 I raised this week for the World Race is missing.” My heart dropped, my stomach sank and I suddenly felt sick and dizzy. NO! This isn’t happening!! I was sitting in church with less then an hour until our art walk event where we were supposed to be raising money for the World Race. Praying, praying, praying all those items are just misplaced and are going to turn up.

Selling Threads of Hope* in the sweltering heat, without Jordynn seemed impossible. He was breaking my spirit every second I couldn’t help her. She showed up at our booth about 45 minutes late with puffy crying eyes and a broken heart. “I went to the last place I remember having my purse and I found my perfume and a few other items on the ground near a dumpster.” Chances were looking near impossible to find the lost or stolen items and money. We tried our hardest to educate people on human trafficking and talk about the World Race. Broken-hearted we called it quits a little early. We went home and prayed. The night was long, dreary, and unforgettable. The deep feeling of regret and sadness poured out of us. It wasn’t about the purse, the phone, the money…It was the fact that the $500 that was supposed to go protecting and honoring God’s Kingdom was now lost, or worse, in the wrong hands.

Monday was all about letting it go and moving forward, forgiving and learning from mistakes. Jordynn was $2500 away from the deadline on Friday and now shes $3000 away. With these seemed to be impossible numbers we planned more fundraising events and even took our nicest shoes and purses to a consignment shop. I know God wanted us to give up all of our worldly possessions to make this mission trip possible. Knowing Jordynn, handing in her designer pumps wasn’t easy. I see the sad look in her eyes as she is signing them over to the consignment shop. My phone is ringing as I am trying to hear the price quote, hoping its amounting to the money that was missing. Its the Tampa Police Department. They have her purse with everything in it, phone, wallet, money, EVERYTHING! My mouth drops I’m welling with tears thanking God, praising Him! We were in total shock. An anonymous person had returned the purse, the money, the phone. God was really working through someone that day. I still don’t believe it happened, like it was a nightmare with a good ending. Its such a powerful feeling to have God work in your life. Its been such a blessing to have learned the lesson he taught us, and in the end he rests his hands on our shoulders reassuring us that he has it handled. Having my childhood best friend to go on the World Race with is a blessing, but God teaching us lessons together is an honor. I had always hoped for a sister I didn’t realize I had one all along.

The rest of the week was just filled with joy, love, and laughter. But  nothing could amount to Monday. We joined the women’s group at our church for the first time and God worked through so many people as we shared we were going on an 11 month mission trip. We never had so many people interested in what we were doing as we did on Monday night. Maybe it was the recent testimony of faith, or the passion in our voice, or our the love for the Lord. We may never know. Miracles do happen! Things I never thought in a million years that were possible, I’ve seen with my own two eyes and heard with my own two ears. The World Race has changed me so much and I haven’t even left the country yet. I am so eager to see how God is going to change and work in people’s lives throughout the nations. I cant wait to witness His miracles and blessings in those who are broken and in desperate need of His love. Still in shock, until next time…

*Threads of Hope is an organization based in the Philippines (one of my 11 countries) They help the Philippians create their own businesses by teaching them how to make bracelets. Its great because it keeps them out of human trafficking. Partnering with World Racers to help them fund-raise they are generous enough to donate 50% of the cost of bracelets to our trip and the other 50% goes right back to the Philippians who make them.