This blog is simply to announce that I am fully funded and to give praise to God for the awesome ways he works in our lives when we trust him with everything, including our finances!
Two years ago, at the start of 2012 I felt a calling on my life to save money. I had an awesome job and was making great wages working for a satellite retailer. So I did. I made a goal to have $5,000 in the bank by the end of the year. To my astonishment, I had saved that amount in just over 6 months and was on my way to $10,000 by the end of the year. I wondered what I was going to do with all that money. I thought about buying a house, or investing in the stock market, or going on an awesome vacation overseas. I opened up an account at Fidelity and began reading Mutal Funds for Dummies. I started talking to a lender about what I would need to do to get ready to purchase a home and even viewed a few houses, but as I began pursuing each of these options none of them quite felt right.
At the time that I was getting close to $7,000 in the bank I began to seriously consider the Race. I could sell my truck I thought, and put at least a portion of my savings in, and fundraise for the rest. I began to see two portals opening up. As I looked over everything I had financially it summed up to about $15,000 in debt and $15,000 in assets by the end of the year. If I chose not to do the Race, I would have financial freedom! I could be free of debt in no time and start building a portfolio and buy a house and the options were limitless! My bosses were talking to me about expanding my portion of the company and giving me a small profit share and more. Though I knew what I needed to do with the money I had saved, it didn’t make it any easier to do. I was a business major and was raised by two parents who taught me to be wise with my money and to think about the future. Was it smart to just throw all of it away and ruin my chance of having a “life?” I asked myself.
One day as I was seriously struggling with all of this and undoubtedly stressing out about money I came across Matthew 6:19-21 and I knew it was for me. It says,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I knew what I needed to do. I still remember the day I wrote a check to AIM for $3,255. It was a big day in terms of letting go of what I thought was “life.” As the year has progressed and I have seen my bank account dwindle I have realized that I am richer, happier, and that I have more “life” now than I have ever had before. When I get home, my debt will still be there, and I will pay back every penny of it in good time, but I will do it having much more of a “life” than I ever would have if I had stayed and grown my bank account.
Returning home I will have a new friend by my side; a friend that will continuously remind me of what it means to be rich. I will no longer be a slave to society’s ideals of wealth and prestige. This doesn’t mean that I will be lazy and not work. I love to work and can’t wait to have a job again. I am excited to have the satisfaction of a hard-earned pay check. But I will never again measure my “life” by the size of my bank account. I know that I have a “Jehovah Jireh” (God our Provider) and that he will guide me into all areas of freedom in my life, including financial freedom. Though I may not know what my finances will look like when I get home I am confident that the Lord will take care of all of my needs as I am faithful and diligent to step out, ask, trust, give, work, and receive.
With that said I really would like to thank all of you who have encouraged me and given me large portions of time and money to help me go on this Race. Your prayers, donations, emails, FB, and blog comments have meant so much and continually reminded me of why I am here. Adding up the total of what was given towards my mission the total comes to $6,185.30. This is not a small number and I am so grateful for the way you all have shown up for me this year. I pray that you are blessed for your willing donations and contributions and I hope that you continue to follow me as I finish the last 4 months of the Race.
A special thanks goes out to the following:
-My Aunt Bonnie, cousins Ashley, Mandy, and Aaron and all the people of Beaver Dam who helped me raise just over $2,000 at a benefit dinner!
-My cousin Dawn Courtney
-My Dad Brent Holdaway
-Dan Kidder
-My Mom Lori Maximenko
-My brothers Josh and Logan Holdaway
-Jeremy Hammond
-All others who gave and have supported me in prayer and other ways all year!
I love you all and am so blessed to be supported by so many amazing people!
