80 people, 54 days, and $18,600
$18,600 is a BIG number.. it is overwhelming and a little scary really. When thinking about asking others to join me in reaching this goal, I was feeling doubtful, apprehensive, and very nervous.
54 days and 80 people. This is all it took.
Fundraising for this trip has given me a new perspective on many things. Faithfulness, humility, thankfulness, and joy.
It also gave me a whole new gratitude and love for the Mississippi Delta and the people there. While people from all over contributed to my goal, it was my connections and mostly family-friends from the Delta that got me fully funded. When fundraising, you see others give so selflessly. You see Jesus in the way others genuinely love you and desire growth in your life. Those 80 people, they mean more to me than I can express.
Aside from financial support, the numerous people out there praying for me- you too are at the forefront of those I am unquestionably grateful for. Those of you who have jumped up and said YES to praying faithfully with me in this process- it is because of your prayers and the Lord faithfully answering them that I am fully funded. I cannot thank everyone involved enough for this blessing.
Henry Nouwen said it best in his book “The Spirituality of Fundraising” when he declared, “Fund-raising is a very rich and beautiful activity. It is a confident, joyful, and hope-filled expression of ministry. In ministering to each other, each from the riches that he or she possesses, we work together for the full coming of God’s Kingdom.”
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! To my precious friends, family, friends who are like family, and church home- all of those who have thought about me, prayed for me, encouraged me, written sweet notes to me, and given to me financially- I genuinely thank you. Because of you, I was able to experience the overwhelming love of Christ in a new way. I am able to feel confident in my decision to go, I was able to feel the joy of watching others desire to be involved, and I am able to have hope that the Lord is going to continue moving in BIG ways.
In stepping forward, I ask that you continue to pray for me, my squad (the 40 ish others who are joining me) and the places we are visiting (Chile, Peru, Columbia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic). Specifically, those we come into contact with who are starving for more.
Again- THANK YOU!!!! I am beside myself with excitement for what is to come!
