Wow! It has been nearly two months since my last post. In my head, I thought I would post weekly, but clearly that hasn’t worked out yet. LOL! So here is a long overdue update on me, fundraising, and my preparation for The World Race.
Me. How am I? Hmm, I am a mix of things. I am happy. I am happy it is spring, that the snow is melting, and that Training Camp is just a couple of months away. I am also happy to have my wrist out of my cast, and to be 12 weeks post break, as of today.
I am also rather busy lately. Shocking, right? Not like me at all. 😉 I have been back in the office, since getting my cast off in mid-February. I have been traveling up to work three days a week, and the other two I spend working from home, because of my occupational therapy appointments. I spend a fair amount of time on the road, in the office, and sorting through all the medical/therapy things.
I am currently in the middle of training season. Somewhere in the midst of doing therapy, commuting and working, I got the itch to train for another marathon. Isn’t everyone’s first thought after breaking a limb, let’s go train for a super-duper long run? No? Oh. Welp! Apparently, that was mine. I signed up for Grandma’s Marathon, and am finishing up my fourth week of training today. I get some strange looks at the gym, running with a splint on my wrist, but that is okay. I am also the girl who laughs while on the treadmill, and seriously has to reign in her urge to dance when listening to Pitch Perfect on the track.
Fundraising. My weekdays are pretty filled up with working and training, which leaves my weekends to fundraising and preparation for The World Race. Friday nights are reserved for sorting out my life, making a to do list, and watching some ridiculous movie on Netflix, just so I feel like I get to breathe. Saturdays and Sundays are dedicated to budgeting, bill pay, church, writing Thank You notes, sending letters, making phone calls, and one long run.
Fundraising is a hard and beautiful process. It is teaching me a lot. Two things stand out for sure. First, Satan hates it when we follow God’s will for our lives, and he will bring out his biggest guns to try and stop you. Second, God is so much bigger than him. Okay, maybe three things. I am definitely human, and I am grateful that God is vastly more powerful than me.
I was talking with people from my squad for The World Race the other day about fundraising/preparation, and the challenges we are facing with it. Most of us struggle with doubt sometimes. In moments of weakness, we find ourselves fearing the “what ifs”. My biggest “what if” fear is fundraising. It is the one that I feel I have the least control over (laughable because I don’t have control over any part of my life). I know that God has this under His control, and that He can raise up people to support me, but I am still human and I still get scared. I want to be David in the face of Goliath, but more often than not I find myself being like Peter walking on water. I am confident for a few feet, but when I think about all of the obstacles that lie ahead of me, I start to sink. Satan knows this, and he is so stinking good at using it. If my mind slips for even a second, he is right there speaking lies. He knows that his best chance is to make me scared, and to shake my bearings enough to cause me to give up. What he also knows, but doesn’t want to be true, is that God is still bigger than him.
With each assault at the border by Satan and his minions, God is bringing in additional troops in the form of supporters. You who have been praying for me, have already been praying me through this process. On days when I have wanted to retreat into a cave, your prayers have kept me going. Thank you! You who have given financial support, have been helping to fulfill this promise of God’s. Each donation brings us one step closer to Launch in August. I cannot do this without you. Thank you!
This is a big act of faith for me, but with each step forward, each letter I send, and with every phone call, text message and in-person conversation, God gives me a little more confidence. Every Saturday, I look at the support that has come through the week before, and every week I find my eyes filling with tears. This morning was no exception. We are at $6,170 in support raised. Can you believe that!? That is essentially 1/3 of the way there. Wow! I could not have done that without my supporters. You have been so generous, and you have blessed me beyond words. My heart is full knowing that I have family and friends that believe in this, who want to pour out into the lives of people all over this world, and who want to partner up with me so that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus. THANK YOU!
We have $13,030 more to go to be fully funded. We are not done yet, but we can and will get there! If you haven’t had a chance to support, and want to do so you can do that in 1 of 3 ways given below:
- Using the orange “donate” button at the top of this page.
- Send a check/money order payable to Adventures in Missions, write Liesl Carlson on the memo line, and mail it to: Adventures in Missions, PO Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374-2570 (Please mail only one check per envelope, as checks are processed mechanically).
- Electronic Funds Transfer (Dynapay) – Go to www.adventures.org/dynapay/ to fill out an online form for a monthly donation from your checking. No transaction fee will be charged for donations made through EFT.
If you have already supported me, or are someone who is unable to do so financially, please remember that your prayers are also appreciated. If you can continue to pray for me as I work through this process, I would appreciate that.
Many of my squadmates have been posting info about the countries we will be going to during our 11 months of ministry. If that is of interest, I would be happy to highlight a country every couple of weeks. What do you think? Would you like to learn more about the countries, and the types of ministry we might be doing in each one? Give me feedback below.
For now, I am sending you my love and prayers.
-Liesl
“The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
