I know I just wrote a couple of blogs about needing support but things are getting more serious. Today I found out that 14 people on our squad will be sent home if they don’t have $11,000 in their accounts by the end of the month. Eek!
He has provided before I have faith that He can and will do it again!
One night before I had left on the race I started feeling desperate. I needed so much more money in my account than I had. I started worrying and wondering where the money was gonna come from. I thought “How are people gonna find the money to support me?” “What else can I do to raise money?” $14,000 seemed like such an impossible task, and to us it is but we serve a unlimited God with unlimited resources and He’s waiting to prove it.
I broke down that night telling God that I could not do it alone. I was at a loss of where the money would come from and knew that it would be only by some miracle that I even went on the Race. I said “God if you want me to go on this thing, you’re gonna have to make it happen. I need a miracle.” The next morning I really wanted to check my support account. I figured that God would want to teach me some patience before He gave me a miracle but started getting really ansy. Finally I broke down and decided, “What the heck!” so, I held my breath and checked my account. To my utter surprise and delight, my account had DOUBLED overnight. Praise the Lord! I might have had a tear or two in my eye as I marvelled at the wonder of it all.
God called me to this thing. He brought me here this far. I’m in country 5! Country 5 of 11. 6 more to go! This is not the end, it’s just the beginning.
I have been reading a book called “In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day”, which I think I mentioned in my blog before, anyways today I was reading it and God really spoke to me through part of it. It was talking about the story in the bible where Jesus calls Peter to walk out to Him on the water. Peter focuses on the waves and gets scared and because of it, starts sinking. He cries out to Jesus to save him. Peter started second guessing himself and what he thought Jesus had said to him.
“We start sinking spiritually because we stop focusing on Jesus and start focusing on the wind and the waves.”
Here is a snippet from the entry I wrote in my journal today about these thoughts:
I answered the Lord’s call. I took a step in faith. I followed His voice onto The World Race. I can’t loose sight of His face and let myself begin to sink. I’m crying out, “Lord save me!”
Jesus called me here. I won’t second guess that fact. I need to focus on Him more than ever because He is my savior, my provider.
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Please join me in praising God as He makes this happen.
A couple of my teammates and I decided to pray at 4pm. every day. Please join us. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, please take a few minutes out of your day to ask God’s provision over me, over my teammates and over my squadmates.
God has provided $ 9,743.79 for me so far!
I need $ 1,256.21 before the end of the month to stay and finish what God is calling me to do.
On top of that I need $ 3,300.00 more to reach my total goal of $14,300.
You can support me by writing a cheque to:
Adventures In Missions P.O box 534470, Atlanta Georgia 30353
Memo- Ashley van Houttum
OR
click the support me tab on my home page and use your credit card.
Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support, I am truly grateful! Love and Blessings!
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Update– Anmari Rivera was sent home because she could not raise enough funds but is bringing the passion and fire with her. She is currently at home fundraising her butt off, doing everything she can so that she can join us again as soon as possible. You can read her inspiring blogs at: www.anmaririvera.theworldrace.org. Please continue to keep her in your prayers!
