When I started this journey a year ago, I did not believe God would get me this far. There were moments I was crippled in fear that I wouldn’t make it, that I would be sent home. There were moments I thought that my Launch Date would be pushed back because I hadn’t raised enough or had more growth to do before leaving, and now I am sitting in Hyderabad, India (my fourth month on the Race), trying to come up with words enough to express the utter gratitude I feel toward every donor, investor, encourager, and every story that I have heard because of this journey that the Lord promised He would take me on what feels like eons ago.
Because this is THE update I’ve been waiting to post. THE blog I’ve wanted to write for a long time now. THE words I’ve wanted to see myself write down since the beginning of this thing: FULLY FUNDED!!!!
However, this is not a blog about me or for me, it’s THE blog about YOU. Yep, you. The friends, family, and supporters that have been on this journey with me since the moment I made it public knowledge that the Lord was taking me on the Race.
To the friends who sat with me countless times at dinner spring semester, brainstorming fundraising ideas and encouraging me every step of the way. The friends who sat with me as I sat out at ENC’s booth asking for money, trying to sell mugs and TShirts and asking for spare change. To every supporter (shout out to the college kids) who bought a TShirt, a mug, or gave every last spare coin in their wallet that they could… Thank You.
To the friend whose office I ran to minutes after I got the call in my sweats and college sweatshirt. The friend who has had a huge influence on me with her faith in waiting on God’s perfect timing in her own journey, and the friend who has been with me every step of the way since I ran into her office that day. The one that lavished love onto me when I least expected it… Thank You.
To the friend who gave me a check toward the end of the spring semester when she needed to pay for school. She exercised her faith in God by joining me on this Race. She exercised her faith in God by giving toward His Kingdom even when she sat with me so many Wednesday Nights in my doubt that He would even provide… Thank You.
To the friend who gave me a summer paycheck from a job she hated when she easily could have used her hard earned money to prepare for her year ahead in school. She exercised her faith in God by giving toward this trip, in utter hope and faith that He would provide for her needs because of the example she saw through me also placing my trust and hope in the Lord for His provision on this trip… Thank You.
To the friend who was always checking up with me in the IRC over spring semester, so knowing in the fact that God would get me to this point and for her donation over the summer that was so unexpected, but so very appreciated! …Thank You.
To the generous anonymous donor that gave $539 on August 22. It was because of your donation that I got pushed to where I was before Launching in September. To the other 5 anonymous donors who gave small donations… I don’t know who you are, but I pray that whoever you are, you are reading this right now and know how eternally grateful I am for your donations that were little rays of light when I was feeling so discouraged… Thank You.
To the squad mates who helped me out in the beginning of this journey in the middle of a stressful semester, to help kickstart fundraising and the journey of hope that this has turned out to be for me… Thank You.
To the family who has invested in my growth since the beginning of my walk with Christ and also invested fully into this journey of life with me in more ways than I can count. In encouragement, in love, in finances… Thank You.
To the Petersburg, PA community and church, for taking me in this past summer like one of your kids and allowing me a paid internship in help of my fundraising, for your encouragement, love, support, TShirt orders, fellowship, etc… To E.S. Ministries and the Women’s Ministry for their help and donations as well… Thank You.
To all the people that ever gave on a Multiple-of-11 Day or who donated in one of the boxes during my very first fundraiser… Thank You.
To my grandparents, parents, sister, and other family members who have been supportive of me on this journey… Thank You.
To my Squad People (Mentors, Leaders, Coaches, TEAM PARRESIA), thanks for not giving up on me back in October and for keeping me on this wild ride, for encouraging me to keep fighting, and for investing your time in my growth. Because of your encouragement and abounding faith in our Lord, I am still here… Thank You.
And finally, to the very last supporter who wishes to remain anonymous. The one that got me past the final edge… Thank You.
Finally, I’m sure there are people I sure I forgot to highlight here, but know that I am still sitting a morning later in utter thanks and gratitude toward you all.
I am still sitting in utter thanks and gratitude toward everyone that has been a part of this journey and there are still no words for the way I am feeling in these exact moments here in Hyderabad. I keep having to look at the words I’ve written down in a Facebook Status to remind myself that it’s true. I had to do the math three times to make sure I was seeing the numbers correctly. I was, without a doubt, seeing a number reached that seemed so far away just 12 short months ago. And it’s because of YOU that I am able to finish out these last 7 months on the Race without a financial weight on my back. And it’s because of YOU that I get to journey openly with God into whatever season He has in store for me next on this thing.
It’s hard to place words on the gratitude I feel. I am also recently finding it harder and harder to put God in words as the days on my Race go on. He is infinite and beautiful and cannot be tamed inside of a box because He can literally use anyone, for whatever reason or intention, to sow seeds into His Kingdom.
But that’s why this blog was about you guys, because you deserve the shoutout for letting God do the Work, for taking part in this with me and for believing in me so much that you would choose to invest in this alongside me.
Thank You, times infinite millions.
All my Love and Gratitude,
~Ashley
