Hello family and friends! I am so excited to officially announce that I am FULLY FUNDED! Wow. What a journey it has been thus far. It was probably about this time last year that I was still nervous about applying for the race and one of the reasons was I knew that I would have to raise $18,617. I just had finished raising $6,000 for my trip to New Zealand just several months prior. It was not easy to raise that amount, so where was the money going to come from to raise over 3 times that amount? Would it be okay to ask the same people to support me again? Would they even want to support me again? How is God going to provide that much? Will people just think that I am just going on an 11-month adventure vacation around the world? So many lies began to creep into my head, but the Spirit kept pulling on my heart and making it clear that this is what He wanted me to do.
The first several thousand dollars or so that I raised was incredibly difficult. I sent letters out and did not get the kind of response that I had hoped or expected. To be completely honest I was trying to figure it out on my own and how I was going to raise the money. My heart was set on how I was going to raise the money, instead of trusting God in how He was going to do it.
I went into training camp having raised about $8,000. I still was not even half way there yet. It was at training camp where I finally handed over my support raising “campaign” to the Lord. I was done with trying to do it with my own strength because it was completely exhausting and not going how I had mapped it out. At camp I prayed that He would show up in a huge way with my support while I was there and that I would be fully funded before I left in August.
When I returned home (parents home in GA) from training camp I greeted my beautiful mother and gave her a big hug. Her eyes were filled with excitement and she exclaimed, “Preston, have you seen how much support you’ve raised since you left for training camp? You are well over $11,000!” Tears in my eyes started to swell up. God answered my first prayer- to show up in a big way with support while I was at camp. My mom continued and told me a story of how an old friend of hers that she hadn’t talked with in quite some time had reached out to her while I was gone and wanted to help support me. I had never even met this woman, but let me just say that it was so encouraging! Tears started rolling down my cheeks and I was utterly amazed. I knew exactly in that moment that God absolutely had this support raising under control and reminded me again that this was exactly what He wanted me to be doing with the next 11 months of my life.
I had about a month and half left before I launched and still had about $7,000 left to raise. I left it all in His hands and He provided every last penny for me. Before I launched I did the math and with all the monthly supporters that He had blessed me with, I knew I would be fully funded by November. God blessed with me with several others supporters since I have left, and I am now fully funded before November. WHAT! God is so good. He is faithful and if He wants you to do something He will provide! I learned so much during this process and have some really crazy and cool stories of how God provided for me. A mentor and close friend of mine used to remind me “I can’t – He can – He will!” He was completely right.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me financially and with prayer because I would not be here without you. If you would like to support me further there are two huge ways that you can help! First, I would love for continued prayer support. Prayer is so important and extremely vital, especially with being in many very dark places on the other side of the world. We are very susceptible to enemy attacks. The second way you can help is by supporting several of my squad mates who are still in need of financial support. They are all vital parts of the body of my squad. I want them all to stay on the field with me the reminder of the race. If your heart is stirring and you are interested in helping to support my family (squad mates) please don’t hesitate to click on the contact button on my blog page or message me on Facebook.
Prayer Requests:
*Pray big prayers- He is a big God!
Morocco-
- Soften hearts of government and King towards Christianity
- For all of the believers here as they endure persecution that they would not live in fear, but stand firm in their faith in knowing that they are children of the most high and all powerful God.
- All Moroccans who are interesting in learning more about Jesus to get connected with other believers. Also, for more dreams and visions for them (those are a big thing here!)
- The two churches and many people that my team has been worshipping and connecting with and God to use them to shake the culture here
My Squad-
- Everyone to be seeking God with all of our hearts
- Clear communication
- To see and love one another as Jesus does
Myself-
- My heart to mold and become more like Jesus’
- Humility
- More faith and obedience in the Father
Quick update: We are currently in Morocco and this place is incredible. God is providing and showing up in some crazy ways! Thank you for following my journey and I hope it is an encouragement to you. I am praying for you all!
