ahhhh hello. as i am writing this it is 5:30 in the morning and not only was i met with a beautiful sunrise, but i also felt the overwhelming presence of the Spirit. i’ve been out of school for a little over a month, and having the pleasure of sleeping in, i often forget about the beautiful things that happen in the morning. the glowing orange rising above the trees, the birds chirping, the trees swaying in the wind. this morning i felt overwhelmed by His wonderful creation, and how easy it is to overlook it. day after day the sun rises and over time i‘ve grown to forget the beauty behind each new day. it really is just the simple things. now i sit in my bed. inspired my God’s creation to write and reflect on what my life has looked like lately.
let’s catch up. i know i haven’t written in awhile, and trust me i’ve had plenty ideas, so stick with me through this as i have a lot of stories to tell and news to give. i’d like to start by saying i have met my first fundraising deadline!! i could not be more joyful to say that statement. you have all been amazing, and more generous than i could have ever imagined. when i was first getting into this i can definitely say my mother was right and i truly didn’t understand how much money $16,000 was. but my faith was determined and i just told myself God would provide. now as i have been fundraising for months, i cannot say my faith has always remained this unwavering. i’ve had my doubts, and i’ve even questioned if this was what God’s plan really was for me. but… every time i catch myself doubting, God really comes through and shows me otherwise. i have a couple fundraising stories that i feel lead to share because God has been moving not only through me, but through other people.
my mother is a strong woman. strong willed. strong opinionated. she has strong faith. and is a strong leader. lately she has been nothing but supportive and encouraging through the exhausting fundraising process. but … it wasn’t always this way. when i first told my parents that this was something i wanted to do, i didn’t get the reactions i had hoped for. i expected immediate acceptance and support which looking back was unfair of me. i understand their concerns, their worries, their unease knowing that i would be all the way across the world and they not only couldn’t see me, but they couldn’t look after me. to want me to stay here, go on with my normally scheduled life, was understandable. my mom. awakened one night, much like i was this morning, felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. she came to me once i was awake and whispered “i believe.” at first i was lost. so i asked what she meant, and she said “God confirmed to me that you are going, i trust. i believe.” WHAT?! the Lord gave my mom peace and confirmation, so why should i have doubts about His plans? my mom is amazing. the Lord is good. and I am forever grateful that He could help not only my mom understand, but my dad. now my dad, he is quite different from my mother. he is a quiet ruler. has a sensitive soul and a big sacrificial heart, quite like my own. he is hardworking and diligent. my dad and i always have an understanding, and usually see more eye to eye on things than my mother and i. he supported me right away. asking me questions to get a deeper understanding of just what was going on. he avidly told me that i had to have a backup plan, i couldn’t just throw myself in, i had to be prepared if i wasn’t called. i didn’t want to hear that. i just wanted to go. but eventually this “back up plan” disappeared and we all threw ourselves in at full force. knowing there was a chance it wouldn’t work out. but letting God decide the trajectory. my dad created an idea to help me fundraise. for those of you who don’t know my dad used to own a feed and garden store, but had to close it down just a few years ago. this was something he loved. something he has a deep passion for. with all of his experience he came to me with his idea. “Mission Field Seeds.” perfect name, and a great plan to sell seeds in the spring with all the profit going toward my mission. God used my dad and his gifts and passions to help me, to help His plan come into action. and it made it clear to me that when God uses you, he uses your strengths, your passions, and what you love to do.
i could keep going on forever the ways i’ve seen God at work in my fundraising, but i will try to keep this last one short so you can all make it to the end, without wanting to take a nap after. Kelsey Card. she heard me talk about the world race at my church and was inspired to help me. kelsey owns orange possum, a boutique where i am from, and after reaching out to me, we orchestrated this plan that one day a percentage of the sales would go to me. but it doesn’t stop there! she would even sell my fundraising tee shirts in her shop! i love clothes (almost too much) and this was a super fun way to be able to raise awareness and get some funds. i appreciate her generous heart, and the kindness she exhibits to everyone around her.
all of these people helping me, all these things are falling into place and all i can think is i don’t deserve it. that there is someone better, or far more “perfect” to execute this plan. but i know this is not true. i’ve heard a few times something along the lines of “God chose you, or God chooses his people”. but i don’t like to think this is the case. i do believe i was called to do this, but i also know that everyone is called to do so. (Mathew 28:19) God doesn’t “select” people like i think this word chosen implies so. i mean just look at Jesus’ disciples. they all came from different backgrounds and some rough pasts. God uses everyone. God chooses everyone. i think you just have to listen and obey. God uses flawed human beings to change the world, i hope this next year He uses me, and i hope He uses you too.
in high school finding friends was always hard for me, and i’ve never had a good friend that i’ve been able to share my faith with. in fact the few that i thought have come close to this, after finding out that i’m going on the race have been the opposite of supportive. i’ve gotten the most hate from the people that i used to call my best friends. and this was very discouraging at first. where i am going with this is, just last week i got to hangout with a friend of mine from another school. and that girl is my soul sister. we had long talks about our faith and lots of laughs. God sent me an amazing friend in a time where i needed one. (shoutout to you jenny) even though i was down in the dumps about not getting any support from my past friends, this girl reminded me of what a true friend looks like. not just because she bought three tee shirts of mine in every color wanting to be my biggest supporter. but also with the priorities in her life. she puts God first and goes through the same struggles i do which makes our conversations never end. her and her sister inspire me to live a Godly life, and not to be shut down by people who don’t believe the same. God never fails to amaze me, and i am forever thankful the people He’s lined up in my life to bring me closer to Him (and all at the perfect time.)
now, in only 18 days…. i have training camp!!! i am so thrilled to meet the rest of my squad mates in person for the very first time!! after just talking about not having friends in high school, i know that the race is going to be so different! my squad and i have all gotten to know each other through various group chats on various social media platforms, and let me tell ya, this group the Lord is going to do amazing things through. we all come from different parts of the US (and world s/o to Val), which makes it even cooler that we can all bring something totally different to the table, having grown up in completely different ways. through all of our differences we have the most important thing in common, our heart for Jesus. i know that God’s setting up a group of people that i can share the deepest parts of my soul to, a group of people that will understand. i have a lot to look forward to!
i ask going forward that you pray for our squad as we are all in different points fundraising. my funds as i am writing this right now are at $5,270/$16,600. so if you feel inclined to donate, i am nowhere near done fundraising, and could use all the support i can get. i also ask that you pray for my squad and i’s hearts to prepare for the journey that is going to be here very soon, and that as training camp approaches we all can make it there safely to learn and grow abundantly.
even though i gave a lot of personal thank you’s in this, i want to truly thank everyone that has been a part of this in one way or another. i’ve gotten crazy amazing donations from people i’ve never spoken to. but support is not only through funds but also through prayer. thank you to those who are partnering with me through prayer. you all mean the world to me.
until next time, ana
