"What are you doing after the race?"
That's a question I've been avoiding for a really long time. Fortunately I still have a little over 6 months until I'm back in the "real world". For the past couple months though, I've felt a strange tug to start praying and seeking out choices now. So I did.
After much prayer, thought, fights with God, fights with myself, and all sorts of other chaotic decision making: I've officially decided to go back to school.
Now, I have a couple options.
I can go back to work full time, do school part time, and continue to stay debt free. This would allow me to be back in my comfortable bubble and somewhat let me pretend I'm in control.
OR
I can go to a school that's closer to my dad, little brother, and some of my family that, due to location, I have a surface-level relationship with. The school is a tuition-paid school (meaning I don't pay a dime for my undergraduate tuition) and focus full time on my studies (for either an Intercultural Ministries major or a Worship Ministry major). The school's financial side is formed around it's students being able to go into full-time missionary/ministry work out of college: debt free. I would still have to pay for a dorm (total about $11,500 a year). So a part time job wouldn't be out of the question, nor is fundraising.
I definitely feel more called towards option two. Therefore, I'm taking a practical step in faith and completing my application for this school.
I need your help though.
The deadline for early admission is on December 1st, 11 days from today. I need $50 for the application fee and lots of prayer over my application. Only 30% of people that apply get into this Bible institute.
I may possibly have to fundraise for the $11,500 a year to go to this school depending on what/how God calls me to pay for it. I will more likely than not have at least a part-time job, but I haven't lived in Chicago in a few years and am still figuring out how much money I'd need for general necessities.
Prayer. I need and am going to need crazy amounts of prayer not only for finances, but for trust in the Lord that if I don't get into this school: it's not because I'm not good enough (fear of rejection), but rather God has a different plan for me. I will also need prayer for insecurities to stay far away. Let's be honest: America doesn't really make going back to school full time appealing to a twenty-something year old (yes, I'm super insecure about possibly being a 22-year old campus living freshman). And last but not least, pray that although this is a step I'm taking in faith, I still stay completely present into where God has me right now (the race).
One thing I did want to add:
I am still fundraising for this trip. I am currently at $9,666 raised (someone please give something for that number to go away! haha), out of $15,500. Praise the Lord on how much He has already been providing. I know that thinking about fundraising for college as well as still fundraising now sounds crazy, but I serve a God that makes crazy dreams a reality. He hasn't failed, so why would he stop now? Please consider partnering with me in either prayer, from a financial standpoint, or both! 🙂
Thank you so much to all my supporters, readers, prayer warriors, and friends that have brought me this far. Let's go a little further, shall we?
<3
