This one is short and sweet.
The truth is I am not the same person that I was four months ago when I launched on the Race. It seems like it was just yesterday, but it also feels like it has been a year since that time. The Race has been something completely different than I ever could have expected it to be, and for it I am so blessed.
My original intention for the Race was to do mission work. I felt God’s call to me to do this, and I answered Him. I assumed He wanted me to experience the mission field and see the world and people that He loves. I had no idea how much a person grows and changes during this experience.
The culture of the Race focuses on developing the Racer as much as doing life on mission. It is a desire that we all grow and become more of who God has called us to be. We grow in our ability to give feedback to one another, both encouraging and constructive, we grow in our ability to lead, and most importantly we grow in our relationship with God. We learn that the more we grow in our identity in Christ, the better people we become to each other.
I have questioned myself in the recent months why I had not lived my life back home the way that I do on the Race. With more honesty, more care for other human beings, with more growth with God and building my identity in who He says I am. I guess a lot of these reasons are a large part of why God wanted me on the Race. It wasn’t all to experience the mission field, he wanted me to grow in many other ways, to develop me in the way He knew only the Race could do.
I have so enjoyed the hard times and the easy times, the good and the bad, the learning and the teaching. I cannot imagine going back home and living the same life I lived before the Race, at the least the way that I ran my life in thinking, actions, personality, etc. I am changed and know that I will continue to change, still being me, just becoming a better me.
Something that both you and I know is staying on the Race is not free. To do missions you must fundraise. I sometimes wonder about that and catch myself in awe at how much money God has helped me raise through my supporters. I doubted being able to fundraise $16,931, but He has remained faithful and gotten me to $13,336! I still need to fundraise $3,625. I will not be sent home, at least not right away, but this final deadline is due ASAP.
I am asking that you would share this with people who might be interested in supporting missions. That perhaps you would even consider donating to my Race. My teammates and I that are still fundraising need the body behind us in prayer and in giving, it is my prayer that you would help me in praying and consider helping financially. Of course, I know not everyone has money to donate, but understand that prayer is just as important and just as appreciated by myself.
Thank you to all my past and present donors who got me to where I am now. You have no idea how blessed I am to have been given this opportunity to experience missions and true life change, to develop myself in the Lord and with my fellow man. I am forever grateful. If you are considering donating, just click on the ‘Donate’ tab at the top of my blog.
In His love,
Hope
