Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

| by archiveworldraceblogs

If I was driving down the road one day, map in hand and plan in mind, and suddenly the tires blew out and the steering wheel swerved sharp right and took me off the road, through a very bumpy valley, and then towards a sketchy-looking forest – if this ever happened, it might give you a pretty good idea of what’s been going on in my life. For once, I’d gotten the details figured out. I had class schedules written down a semester ahead, a part-time job that gave me the flexibility I needed, and enough money to get me through life with no problem. I had fixed a million things in my car and it was reliable once more! Things were settling down, finally, and I found myself planning. This, friends, is a very dangerous thing to do if you’ve ever said to God, “Lord, this life belongs to you. Direct me wherever you will!” – or any sort of version of that. Because, as I learned, God takes that kind of talk pretty seriously.

A funeral, a little car accident, a BAD semester, and an empty bank account later, I found myself completely wrecked. Dismantled. Every plan I had made wasn’t working out. The events that had already marked the year of 2010 hadn’t been what I expected them to be. And then, God told me that now would be the time to embark on a crazy, insane, wonderful adventure called the World Race.

My reaction: What, God? Right now? I have no money…I’m too young. I’m inexperienced…this is too big for me…my parents will never say yes…I can’t just pack up and leave for a whole year- I’m a nursing major!
          And He’s just been saying to me, “Trust me.”
But,  God, You don’t get it. There’s too much I have to do first! Why didn’t You give me more time to be more prepared? I don’t have the time to raise the funds and get all the loose ends tied here. I can’t do this…
                    “Just trust me.”
And every time I get really discouraged, suddenly I see a familiar name on my donations account online. The name I see over and over and over again is “Anonymous”. Anonymous donates money into my account whenever I’m real discouraged or doubting. Sometimes, Anonymous gives a little, sometimes a lot, but my heart jumps when I see that name there.

Because, each and every time, it comes as an answer to my prayers of desperation. Lord, help! I don’t know how to do this…it’s so much to raise, is it even possible? Anonymous donates $25.00
Lord, this is so crazy. $14,500 is so much! I can’t even wrap my mind around it. Am I supposed to be doing this? Am I on the right track?? Anonymous donates $200.00
God, what if this is the wrong time for me to do this? Am I supposed to stay here and enroll in school like I’d planned? Have I been wrong about this the whole time?Anonymous donates  $80.00

 
I’m not making this up, honest. It’s a tangible answer to prayer- and pushes me to keep going. I see Anonymous and start thanking Jesus. I see Anonymous and suddenly I see God’s fingerprints all over this crazy journey, and I know I’ll be ok.
 
To all my supporters so far, if you’re reading this, know that the money you have given so freely and so generously; it is MORE than just dollars and cents. It is MORE than a step closer to the trip cost. It’s MORE than helping me meet a deadline.
It’s hope, encouragement, and joy to my life.
It’s a step closer to allowing me to bring the love and light of Jesus to a dying world.
It’s confirmation of so many things.
You, giving me your time and hard-earned money? You have become Jesus to me. Your love, grace, and generosity blows my mind – and it is extremely humbling.
 
So. Thank you for loving me so well. I am going to run this race, and I can’t WAIT to tell you about every story that God unfolds before my eyes. I can’t wait to share them with you because YOU ARE PART OF IT ALL.
 
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am so thankful for you (yes, and Anonymous too!)