Fundraising update: Three spots have been filled on World Race Jeopardy! I’ve also received a significant donation from my home church, which is a huge blessing. Thank you and let me know if you would like to pick a country and donation amount on the board. Much love!
Everyone’s favorite blog topic: Fundraising! This is a daunting subject for me, as I would rather concentrate on the generosity of what you have already given and the service that it has empowered me to do all around the world. I want to celebrate what your donations have allowed me to do on this mission trip, as I am halfway through the 11-month journey!
In Costa Rica, I painted school classrooms, played soccer with neighbors, worked at an elderly home, and helped with Vacation Bible School. In Nicaragua, I led bible studies, told my testimony, prayed for people, shared the gospel with villagers, and performed skits. In Honduras, I taught English classes, visited villagers, helped with Sunday school, and organized youth events. In Chile, I met with multiple pastors throughout the northern region to inform them about our program and connect them to our organization to be future hosts. In Bolivia, I led kids’ events, taught origami to kids with disabilities, and leveled out church grounds.
Throughout this year, I have met amazing families, lived in cultural and religious differences, and interpreted and translated Spanish and English. I had the privilege of sitting next to a man as he gave his life to God. I have seen toothless smiles and dirty feet. I have witnessed wretched poverty and experienced surmountable joy and hospitality.
I swam in the ocean, sat inches away from monkeys, ate coconuts off trees, salsa danced, floated down rivers, sledded down a volcano, hiked mountains, climbed a waterfall, made empanadas, walked across Mars-like terrain, and negotiated with border police on more than one occasion.
During this time, God has taught me how to be a leader and how to be humble. How to trust people and be a part of the body of Christ. How to commit to do the hard thing and push past laziness and excuses. How to initiate difficult conversations and uplift others.
I am seriously amazed by the financial, prayerful, and encouraging support I have received from all of you. It has been an enormous blessing. Thank you for your donations. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your comments. Thank you for your emails. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your support. You mean the world to me!
All of that being said, I am over $4000 short of being fully funded, and my final deadline has passed. Eek. Therefore, I decided to make a World Race Jeopardy board! Shout-out to my teammate, Victoria, for this idea.
Here is how it works:
- Pick a country.
- Pick a number.
- Donate that amount here.
- Win the prize behind that amount.
You can contact me through email or Facebook or leave a comment on this blog with the country and amount you choose. When your donation comes through on the AIM website, I will flip over the card. It will reveal a fact about that country and the (humble) prize you will win. The board includes the order of the next five countries on our route.
Prizes include:
- “Look Up” T-shirt
- Caribou giftcard
- Detailed “Day in the Life” email from the country you selected
- Framed photo from the country you selected
- Postcard from the country you selected
- Souvenir from the country you selected
Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, most of the prizes will have to be distributed when I come back from the Race. However, don’t let that deter you from donating 😉 I will be sure to keep track of the winners and their prizes.
Thanks again for all that you do and all that you are.
