This will be my first and only blog regarding fundraising.
(And yes, I copied the Philadelphia 76ers phrase “Trust the Process”)
This process has been filled with many different aspects including fear, anxiety, and pride.
Fear.
At the beginning of everything, I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my parents explaining my passion and urge for leaving a year to serve in the mission field. Fear and doubt surrounded me as I imagined everything. Being fully aware that most people had already applied and had been working on fundraising for months now, which meant I was somewhat behind. I specifically remember asking my father how reasonable it was to think I could raise nearly $16,000 in just a few short months, his reply was “There’s no limit to what God can do if this is His calling for you”. I took my first step of a thousand miles by filling out my application. This was a complete leap of faith committing to this program not knowing where this support would come from and the first step of a humbling process. I overcame this fear with the thought in mind that if this is what I was supposed to do then He would provide.
Anxiety.
Overcoming my fear was an immense part in this process, but still, there was a concern about how all of this would be possible. Of course, He provided an answer to that which arose from my family, friends, church family, and even people I had only seen on occasion or in the past. This amazing loving support group started to form around me. I had never known that these many people loved me and would support my calling to this extent. The words that I keep coming across are “we believe in what you are doing”, which is such an encouraging and comforting saying. To think this was just a simple thought a couple months ago, and now it’s becoming a complete reality. Currently, I am slightly over ¾ of the way funded and I know for a fact this is what the Lord wants me to do. God knew I needed this support group surrounding me in this process, which eliminated all self-doubt and concern.
Pride.
Now I don’t know how much pride you have but when my 8-year-old sister handed me a twenty-dollar bill for my trip there was not much to be found in me. Pride was one of the things I have struggled with the most. Asking for support and people to make your vision possible can be filled with humility. You might think that humility is a bad thing, and although it can be quite uncomfortable it is just as humbling. I have never enjoyed taking money from people and find it somewhat as an awkward encounter. This is bigger than my pride, and that had to be put down in order for this process to be complete.
As of today, I sit here nearly 80% funded and filled with astonishment. My kitchen table conversation has been made possible by taking a leap of faith in a direction I felt pulling on my heart. This fundraising process has done way more than provide my financial support for my trip, it has shown me how much I am loved by the people in my life and Him.
Now I am less than two weeks before I leave for training camp in Georgia. I will soon meet my team filled with Jesus loving adventure freaks just like myself, which is a whole other type of an exhilarating feeling. You probably have a decent guess on what the next blog will entail!
