I’ve been meaning to write this blog post for almost three weeks, but you know how those things work. Being busy gets you all sidetracked and complacent and you tell yourself, “But ____ needs to be done first.” Suddenly it’s a week before Spring Break and you’ve finally started actually writing your senior thesis and you need a lot of caffeine and relaxing music to calm your inner angsty college senior self…or maybe that part’s just me. Anyways, the point is, I kept telling myself that I’ve got time and that it can wait.
But in reality, it can’t wait. I’ve been wanting to tell you all how God has been blessing me and my fundraising, providing perfectly for me in unexpected ways. How could I possibly think that that’s a topic that can wait? Praising God and (hopefully) giving encouragement to brothers and sisters can’t wait, and it needs to come before my homework, as hard as that is to imagine in light of the next 54 days (um, side note…54 DAYS UNTIL I’M DONE).
This morning I was driving to church, glad for the warmish morning. I was happy because my car wasn’t frosty, the sun was shining, and I had left early to get coffee with friends. Like, what a good Sunday, am I right? I was driving on Back Loop, rounding that first actual turn, when I felt my car take the corner and kind of…just…kept…going…
The sun hadn’t gotten to that corner of the road yet, under the trees, and there was ice where I hadn’t expected it.
My first thought was confusion. Like, “Wait a second. My car isn’t going where I want it to…I’m…not... following this turn?” and it felt like we were floating across the road. I didn’t yell, my friends didn’t say anything, and I felt this weird calmness that only registered that I was heading into the other lane and that there was an oncoming car. A legit thought of mine was, “Dude, are you kidding? Of course this car is like, going the perfect speed where I’ll totally hit it in my projectile or be T-boned.”
I’m describing all these thoughts that seem lengthy, but in reality, it was probably only a second or two after hitting the ice and being sent careening. I spun the wheel (somehow still not panicking) in the opposite direction as my twin brother’s voice came to my mind and I tried to remember what counts as over-correcting. I avoided the oncoming car, sending my car back into my lane, swerving towards the guardrail. As we swerved, I corrected and we slid a bit, finally straightening out, missing the guardrail too.
The entire incident couldn’t have lasted long. My friends and I were silent the whole time, my brain was silent, and I was somehow calm. I haven’t experienced this before, having to think quickly as time seems to slow down and my hands “somehow” found the perfect way to handle the wheel in a way I haven’t had to do before. I don’t remember anything except that steering wheel in between two very clear images of the oncoming car and the guardrail; I had to double-check with my friends for the in-between.
Praise God for his protection: that there was only one car in the oncoming lane, no other cars in my lane, that both cars weren’t going any faster, that my brain was calm and that my hands were guided, and on and on and ON with how much worse it could have been. We made it to coffee, spooked but over it and thankful. I replayed the picture of the oncoming car over and over in my head, so thankful for it all.
The few seconds of repressed panic this morning confirmed it; I cannot let my praise for God go unheard, and there is literally no time like the present.
So, friends, I hope you are encouraged by what God is doing in my life and encouraged to share your praise with others.
Specifically, February was an amazing month of provision.
–I LOVED making the Valentines for my Valentine’s Day fundraiser and that people let me be a part of sharing their love for friends and significant others–It was SO fun! I was hoping to do a Random Acts of Kindness Week fundraiser in the same spirit, only to find out that I missed RAOK week! DANG IT. I’ll just have to make up my own week. So many people “adopted” a box or went for the $14 on the 14th, and I was really encouraged.
–As you know, I gave my testimony at BCM, and was able to give a support letter there to a leader that had come to listen. Him and his wife supported me with the largest donation I’ve had to date! Praise God for their hearts and willingness.
–During worship at BCM the next week, my friend walked over to me and just handed me money. I super awkwardly gawked at it and put it away as she said that her boyfriend (another of my friends) had told her that I needed to have this (it probably looked like a shady drug deal going on in the back row). When I thanked him and asked him about it, he said, “I just felt like God told me to give you everything in my wallet. I don’t even know how much was in there.” Well, it was no small amount. Praise God for my friend’s heart, responsiveness, and obedience! That is so crazy to me. I was so dumbfounded and surprised. But guys, God does amazing things for us all the time…why should I be surprised? We had talked about being vigilant about watching for the way God answers prayer in my small group and man, I have seen it.
–So I’ve been wanting to do a fundraiser that involves obtaining and decorating 22 jars. I had NO IDEA how I was going to make time to do that. I bought some decorating materials and priced the jars. I was like, “Okay, I’ll buy them when I have time.” The next day, I saw on Facebook that a friend of mine was selling EXACTLY 22 JARS, DECORATED EXACTLY HOW I HAD PLANNED ON DECORATING THEM, for just $20! What a deal! God is such a good Father; I hadn’t asked for this at all, but He knew what I needed and provided. I didn’t need to stress over the time to make them and it was an indirect, awesome answer to prayer. What a blessing!
–That left half of my Adopt-A-Box? Yeah, my aunt (you, Kelli!) took all those! I hadn’t even sent her a support letter because I knew she was moving and didn’t want to put one more thing on her mind to think about, but God obviously showed up in her heart, where I hadn’t expected it. What a praise!
–College friends, we are in college, a time where we can basically blame everything on our being broke and paying for school. And yet, you guys are supporting me! That’s amazing. Thank you for your hearts and generosity!
–God provided a way for me to stay and work in Juneau this summer, doing the same job as a Conferencing Assistant for Housing that I have done in the last summers. I thought I had been ready for something new and was praying for a job that could accommodate all the leave I need when this job was offered with the time off and early departure in mind. His ways are better and perfect, praise God!
–I bought my tickets to Training Camp! I can’t WAIT to meet my squad, to introduce YOU all to my squad, and be blessed by the week and a half with them! YAY 😀
–Lastly, ALL YOU ANONYMOUS DONORS. That’s right. I SEE YOU. For those who are not aware, there are people who are anonymously, wonderfully, supporting me. I wish I knew who you all are so that I could thank you in person and give you a hug. Or maybe I’ve never met you in my life. Either way, it’s the coolest feeling to know I have your support, whether I know you or not, and to know that your hearts want to see Jesus move through me all over the world. It is seriously humbling and I’m so thankful. I thank God for you.
Those are my praises, friends! I hope you can be encouraged and praise the Lord for how He has blessed me, too. And look for how He’s blessed you. 🙂
Some Fundraising Updates
There are 94 days until training camp! I have to have $5,000 raised by May in order to go to Training Camp in June (and actually go on the Race, haha) and I have currently raised $3,362. I am so confident that this will happen, but please keep this in your prayers! In the broader scope of things, that’s just about 20% of my OVERALL goal of $17, 361. Praise God! And of course, in addition to your support in prayer, please consider supporting me financially through a single donation OR you can join my monthly donating team (which currently consists of 1 dedicated, lovely fellow ;)), committing yourself to this mission trip monthly. 🙂
Current Fundraisers:
Adopt-A-Box: I’ve still got 67 boxes left! This fundraiser is simple: you pick a box and donate that amount. I liked the idea of this fundraiser because I didn’t want anyone to think they couldn’t be a part of this; this fundraiser is accessible for anyone and virtually any budget! Let me know if you’d like a box and I’ll cross it out. Here’s the available boxes:
Birthday Fundraiser: I’m asking that you would consider donating to my mission trip for my birthday! I’ve felt so loved and supported through this time of preparation. Truly, the only thing I could want for my birthday is continued support. I’ve put out two ways to do this: $25 on March 25th or $22 for my 22nd birthday. Of course, if you want to do more/or less, don’t let me stop you. 🙂
The jar fundraiser I mentioned is in the works, so keep your eyes out for that! 🙂
Thanks for being here for me in prayer and in person, everyone, and I hope you find encouragement in my praising for this fundraising. Which, of course, is HIS (fund)raising. I desire to praise and raise His name and glory through me in my life. And a couple weeks, we will celebrate Jesus’ true, literal raising. Hooray!:)
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3)
Yes, let’s exalt his name together!
