160 Donors.
6 Fundraisers.
7 Months.
$18,100.
I keep thinking I’m in a dream that I never want to wake up from. Wow, each time I say it, it sounds even more wild. GOD HAS FULLY FUNDED ME FOR THE WORLD RACE!
Five months ago I never would have thought I would be here, looking at that completely full blue bar up above, finished with support raising. I am in awe of God’s provision, humbled by everyone’s generosity, and totally confident that I am pursuing what the Lord has asked. I wanted to publicly share about my fundraising journey, its ups and downs, and how it has changed me and transformed my faith and dependence on Jesus. First, a quick timeline of my support raising process:
November 30: $1,200
December 31: $2,000
January 29: $4,000
February 11: $5,000
March 19: $10,000
April 1: $13,000
May 19: $18,100 FULLY FUNDED!
I began my support raising journey in November feeling nervous and excited of what was to come. The day that I announced on social media that I was signed up for the World Race, I immediately received 2 donations. I remember smiling so much that it hurt my face! Friends were supporting me, I felt so loved and encouraged, and that month was full of thankfulness. And then December – the season of giving – came and sucked up that joy when my funding came to a slow crawl.
By the end of 2017, I honestly had developed a very negative attitude of defeat and discouragement. I knew it was possible for God to provide me with the funds needed, yet I didn’t understand how or if He truly would. It felt like my river of donations was turning into a slow trickle, before then entering a temporary drought. I didn’t want to keep mailing out support letters. I didn’t want people to keep asking me how support raising was going. I didn’t want to be in this uncomfortable position anymore.
So I prayed. I earnestly asked the Lord to give me a new perspective on support raising, to rejuvenate my dejected spirit, and OH BOY did He follow through. When the New Year rolled in, I all of a sudden had an excitement towards this process and was eager to begin fundraisers, stick stamps on support letters, and just invite people into my journey! God changed my mindset, replacing disappointment with hopefulness, and forming a newfound enthusiasm towards asking people to join in on the Lord’s work. One morning during worship at church, I had this image in my head of an enormous mountain in front of me that I was trying to climb but kept failing. I didn’t have the right equipment and level of fitness that was needed. Suddenly, someone put me on their back and easily carried me piggy-back style up the mountain to the very top. Jesus was carrying me. And wow, did I feel relieved. Once I honestly trusted him with this financial obstacle, He completely took over.
I distinctly remember a conversation I had with my mom in February, when I had a couple thousand dollars in my World Race fund. (She was actively my number one advocate during the entire fundraising process – mailing out tons of letters, talking with co-workers, etc. Thank you, Mom!) Anyways, we were celebrating how close I was to reaching my first goal of $5,000. However, then she started telling me she was worried about how I would reach my entire goal because she had already reached out to her contact list, and I was already quickly making my way through mine, too. She warned me that I would probably have to dip into my savings in order to cover the cost for this mission. In that moment though, a feeling of unexplainable confidence washed over me. I believe the Holy Spirit was reassuring me that He had my situation in his hands and that I had no reason to fear/doubt because it was under his authority. Without a glimpse of uncertainty, I replied to my mom that I truly had faith that the Lord would fully provide and that I wouldn’t even have to touch my savings account. I had no idea how this would happen but clung to that confidence.
Merely a month later my World Race fund had doubled. Two months following that, I was completely funded. SAY WHAT?! I still can’t believe it. It brings me such JOY to make this announcement about God’s provision in such a tangible way! Through fundraisers like my Adopt a Box/Food Challenge Videos, Cinco de Disco party, Country Jars, and World Mugs made & sold by Grace Ceramics, I actually had such a blast raising funds! Through the enormous generosity of friends, family members, acquaintances, and strangers, I can now participate in the World Race. Through this process, the Lord has also stripped some layers of selfishness off me (I still have a lot more underneath though!) and I finally understand what it means to be a cheerful giver. He has opened my eyes to how filling it can be when you pour yourself into others. I open my wallet to others so much more often now than I previously did and it truly brings me such happiness to do so because ultimately it is glorifying God. I don’t say all this to sound “high and mighty,” but to testify to the fact that what is poured into you will pour back out of you. I’ve learned that generosity isn’t determined by the size of your wallet, but by the size of your faith.
All God is asking for is your YES. He will do the heavy lifting. He will work behind the scenes. He will make the impossible possible. Will you allow him to? We serve a God of provision, fulfillment, and promise; He just wants our trust, obedience, and following. I urge you to ask the Father to reveal to you what aspects of your life you’re lacking confidence in… but be ready to have a heart to heart with him. In the words of a good friend of mine, “Sometimes God breaks you to reshape you.” I praise the Lord for giving me a new spirit of peace and confidence, stripping me of the anxious and worrying spirit I used to have. The “old” Ashley a few years ago would never have believed that God would fully bless me for this mission opportunity and would’ve let worried thoughts be my master – which is the very reason why it took me awhile to give God my YES! Let Jesus take control, you won’t be disappointed.
So once again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU a million times THANK YOU to all who have donated to make this dream possible! I’m so glad you’re a part of my World Race journey and exciting things are ahead. Now, my prayer is that God will bless YOUR yes!
So what’s next? Well, I’m heading to Georgia in a couple of days for TRAINING CAMP, where I will meet my squad of teammates and live/camp with them for ten days. We’re talkin cold bucket showers, mosquitos, phones off, and very, very close proximity with each other. I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET THIS LOVELY FAMILY OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS! In the meantime, I’m practicing walking 2 miles with my heavy loaded up pack (don’t be fooled by my happy face in the pictures – it’s HARD). Also, I apologize that I’m way behind in my “Adopt a Box Food Challenge” videos. People keep asking me when the next one is coming out and I’m so sorry it’s taking me a long time! Keep your eyes out for the latest video coming soon(ish). In the meantime, re-watch the fourth one? Love you all!
