I’ve always been a person with big goals and big dreams. I love to research and plan in order to make them happen, but sometimes dreaming about them is as far as I get. When I discovered the World Race it was everything I ever wanted to be a part of. It was a group of people going around the world to build the kingdom and to bring the Love of the Lord to even the tiniest of villages because they too are worthy to be pursued and know how loved they are. I read everything on their website, watched vlogs from past racers, and read blogs nonstop. That was all the easy stuff, but then it came time to commit to this dream. Was I ready to leave the country for nine months? Was it smart to take a year off and not go straight to school? And the biggest question- Was I ready to tackle raising $16,600? With such a daunting task ahead, I did not feel anxious about anything, but instead felt so much reassurance in choosing this path. So, I took the first step in applying. Once accepted I was like shoot I have to raise this money now.
When I first started to fund raise I looked at it as something I had to take on myself and make happen. The one thing I have learned in this process is that “I” can not be the one to do it. I was taking on this burden of providing for myself instead of letting the Lord provide for me. I was struggling with letting go of controlling how I was funded. I quickly began to realize it was not a process I could walk through by myself, so I took a step back. The Lord was so faithful through this process and took so much of that burden off my shoulders. He worked through y’all, my supporters, to show me the beauty in loss of control and through receiving help. I really struggled with the idea of asking for money, but when I stopped working so hard through tangible fundraisers and allowed the Lord to show provision through other people’s willingness it came into a different perspective.
The lesson I learned through fundraising was affirmative and humbling. Every time I received a donation, it was the Lord showing me that people believed in me and they were affirming what the Lord was putting before me. When I stopped trying the Lord provided more than when I tried myself and so I learned that I alone am not the reason I am almost funded. It blows my mind when I see how far we have come. Like 14,885 is a big number!! Every dollar of it means so much and has come from so many different people who were obedient in giving and believed in me. I struggled with knowing my worth coming onto the field and what I would bring to the table, but now I see that so many people back home saw my potential even before I did. So thank you for not only financially giving, but for all the ways you poured into me spiritually and mentally!
Now I am on the field doing “ministry” five days a week, but also learning what it means to live a missional life 24/7. Not only have I been lead into a season of pouring into others, but I am also being poured into and refined. I am so excited for these next eight months on the Race and look forward to step into the future transformed.
Thank you soooo much!!!
