God has been moving in BIG WAYS!
I have been talking to a few people who didn’t know this happened so I wanted to write about what happened for those who didn’t see it!
A few weeks ago I had a friend of mine send me a text on a Friday afternoon while I was still at work. They wanted to encourage me to post about my trip again and that they would match every dollar that I raised that night. I was so tired and every thought in my head was not wanting to do it since I had been at work for 9 1/2 hours that day going nonstop and I had to be up super early the next morning. I had thoughts running through my head that no one would want to give since it was a Friday night where people would be out and about. I thought no one would even see a post if I even put one out there. But I had a couple of good friends tell me to just post a quick video, put it out there, and watch God move. And boy did He!
In the first hour or so 1 person donated which I was so grateful for! I thought well that is more that I would have raised if I didn’t say anything at all! I was encouraged, but also kept thinking I shouldn’t be expecting much more. Then about 45 minutes later… BOOM a notification… BOOM another few notifications… then they just kept pouring in with such loving and encouraging messages!! I started to cry and began praising God for His provision and everyone’s generosity. I put God in a box that night and He broke right through it.
At the end of the night, 6 hours after posting the video I raised $7,408!! That was more than I have raised in the last 6 months!
For other racers who are in this crazy journey of fundraising, those who are fundraising for other things, or just waiting for God to move in other ways, believe me when I say God will show up and He will do HUGE things! I am a firm believer in that now, and I know He will do the same for you!
As for other updates on this journey, I am 20 days away from training camp! It felt like it was just yesterday that I was getting the call that I was accepted to go on the World Race and now over 6 months later I am approaching training camp which will help prepare all of us for what could happen on the Race as well as team bonding and more I don’t even know yet. I could do some digging and find out what goes on at training camp, but I want to go into it with fresh eyes and just experience it as it happens! I am also so so excited to meet my team!! We are all so different yet we all share the same faith and love for Jesus. All of which just shows God’s amazing diversity in His creation.
As far as gear goes, I have almost all of my big pieces! Woo! Some people have been asking me what else I need for the Race next year, so I decided to make an Amazon wish list! If you want to go check it out the link is here:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/iay8tpa?ref_=wl_share
I am going to be real honest here and say I am low on funds for myself. I know God’s in control and He will provide just like He has already done!
I am just stepping out in faith and being open and vulnerable here. I am someone who likes to plan out my financials over the coming month or two to budget everything out. And as I was looking at what I currently have and what few paychecks I will be getting, I basically won’t be able to save any more money. All of it will be going towards my vaccines, doctor appointment bills, and my regular bills plus rent. I am not writing this to just to ask you for financial help, but I am asking, if you are willing, to come along side me in prayer that God will provide for me and that I will be able to get everything I need to be prepared for the Race. Whether that be finding a place where vaccines are more affordable or where someone may want to help purchase or lend me the remaining items I need for the Race or that my insurance will cover more than I think they will miraculously. And above all, that I will surrender all of this to God each and every morning and allow Him to move in His own way. I will never ever ever think lightly of what full time missionaries go through to keep doing what God is calling them to do. There is so much more that goes into preparing for the mission field than I previously thought. But with God on my side, anything is possible! I cannot wait to be able to look back on this time and say, “Wow, God made a way!”
I know I say this all the time, but I truly am grateful for each and every one of you! You all help keep me going and staying strong in the Lord. Thank you thank you thank you!!
I hope to post again before training camp, but if I don’t I will let you all know how it goes!
With love,
Isabel
