Today is the last day financial gifts could be given for me to reach my first fundraising deadline (May 15th), and I’ll make it to my first goal once the gifts are processed! I gotta be honest, I really didn’t think I’d make this goal. I have been amazed all day that God has done it, yet again.
I’ve been a missionary in the United States for four years, so I have experience raising financial support. However, because of when I really committed in my heart to go on this trip, I had about 4-5 weeks to reach $5,000 and this was still very daunting for me! As much as God has shown me His faithfulness to provide for my needs (and even wants) over the years, I still doubted I’d make the deadline!
During this process of raising support, Jesus’ question to Peter “You of little faith… why did you doubt?” rings in my ears sometimes. I don’t know why Jesus! Because $18,617 total for the trip is a ton of money! You would think I would know deep in my soul by now that there’s no doubt He will come through, but my heart still pounded with fear at that big number.
I want to share one story of God’s faithfulness with you. While I was praying and thinking about going on the World Race, I made a list of all the things I thought I would need. I put tennis shoes on the list, because mine were worn out and they weren’t going to cut a year on the mission trip. That week the missionary group I was working with at the time was hosting a mission team. One day we decided to go to a mall during a break time and they wanted to go to the Nike store so I went along. I decided to look for tennis shoes. I found the perfect pair on sale! They had bright pink shoe strings, which I really like! I decided to buy them even though I wasn’t sure about the race yet.
I was standing in line with one of the mission teamers, chatting it up, waiting to buy my shoes, when he reached for my shoe box and said “Let me get those for you, please.” I said, “No, you really don’t have to do that!” but he insisted and bought my shoes! It was an incredible blessing. I was so surprised. Who does that? So nice. Well, when I got home, I thought “You know what, I do love those pink shoe strings, but I don’t know if I’ll want to wear bright pink for a whole year.” So I put shoe strings on my list. Yes, shoe strings. I was trying to think through every possible thing I would bring. I figured I could pick some up at Wal-Mart for a couple bucks.
Also on my list I added extra headphones and two skirts. I decided to look for a long black skirt and a mid-length one. I read somewhere that girls are advised to bring skirts to be respectful of some cultures we’ll live in.
Within a day or so of receiving the tennis shoes, I was going through a bag of clothes my friend Jenn had passed on to me. About mid-way through the bag I pulled out a long black skirt! Wow, that is perfect!! So good. One more thing off my list. Then, a mid-length skirt. Sweet! At the bottom of the bag was a set of headphones. Ok, this is too good. Thanks Jenn! So many things from my list covered in one bag.
The very last thing I saw were a pair of light blue shoe strings. My jaw dropped. I don’t believe in coincidences. I laughed out loud. Through my friend, God just provided shoe strings for me… SHOE STRINGS… along with several other very specific list items! Wow. Just, wow. God, you are full of surprises.
That’s when I decided to go on the World Race. I felt that God had given me a head nod with a grin and a glimmer in His eyes. Alright God, let’s do this. And please continue to show me your faithfulness in what really matters, salvation and eternal life with You for unbelievers in these countries!
Yep, I’m living on shoe strings. Yet I’m not living on the bare minimum, in desperation and poorness of spirit, just trying to get by. I’m living in the abundance of God’s love for me, often shown in details like shoe strings, and in this my soul is satisfied.
Do you have a need? Are you struggling with something? Even if you don’t pray or don’t know how, I encourage you to try talking to God about it. I’m not saying He’ll give you a Ferrari. But He will satisfy you fully. It’s simple really, I usually start with “Hey God, it’s me. I love you.” and then go from there. Silence helps a lot and you don’t have to put the “I love you” part either. God just wants to hear from you, and I can guarantee you that He wants to show His faithfulness to you too! Let me know if you have questions about prayer 🙂
“…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon…” Matthew 6:8-10
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
