You know, many people ask how this journey began and I just can’t hold back. The way God has worked through this journey by far blows my mind and grows my faith deeper and stronger each day. I never fully realized the power, reality and miracles of God until this.
“The craziest part is that this journey started with a stranger at Starbucks.”
To be completely honest, I was astounded and had that jaw dropping moment when you can’t believe this “thing” is actually happening but in reality it is happening. So here I was one day, just going on my merry way hitting up the nearest Starbucks for some java and Jesus time and then this happened. This was the same week I had felt a strong call from God through several confirmations to pursue the world race missions but this was definitely a clear confirmation.
As I order my “frapalapachino” (as my mother would call it) and took a seat near the window I caught a glance of an elderly man reading his Bible at a table near me. Curious, I couldn’t not ask where He was reading from.
“Proverbs,” he said. “No way, I am as well!” I exclaimed. After exchanging conversation on Proverbs for a while and what God had been teaching us, he asked what I did as my career in life. I mentioned that I was a teacher but was currently pursuing mission work with the world race. I proceeded to say the only thing is, I need to fundraise….and before I could even get another word out of my mouth, this man reached into his back pockets and pulled out all of the cash he had and said these words that will forever wreck my soul:
“Never say, I need, I want or I lack. Instead say I have, I will, and I am in Christ Jesus.”
WHAT? How does this just happen? In tears I exclaimed “I can’t take your money Sir.” He stated “It’s not mine, it’s God’s.” It was then that I realized what sacrificial giving was and looks like; giving without margins.
That was it, that was what started my journey. Someone that not only believed in me and the mission God has placed on my life, but believed in what JESUS can do! Believed in the furthering of the gospel to make His name known to all the nations.
If I explained all the ways God has worked through this journey so far I’d be an author. He is SO faithful and has stirred up so many hearts for the gospel, it has truly been a radical journey.
Even as I was processing everything the Lord has been doing, and financially trying to figure things out the last month of May, I realized I was only $12 from my first goal. I remember praying and just saying “Jesus just $12.” Then moments later, NO JOKE as I walked out of my apartment an envelope fell from my door and it was a gift MORE THAN THAT from my neighbors to put towards this trip. With that, I am beyond astounded, humbled and grateful to say that I have reached the first fundraising goal.
There is still a lot more to go but I have come to realize more and more that
JESUS is real, He is alive, He is active, and He is working all the time to bring others to Himself.
It is my prayer that you reading this will be challenged and changed. That your faith will increase in Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel will transform your life and the lives of many.
