Hello Friends!
I have a big announcement that I am so excited to make. After a lot of prayer and fasting and more prayer I have decided to begin fundraising for the World Race. The World Race is an 11-month mission trip where I will serve in 11 different countries. I will (Lord willing) be traveling to India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. My squad and I will be prayerfully serving according to the immediate and sustainable needs of each country. Our tasks could include ministering to sex trafficking victims in Southeast Asia and the orphans of and victims of Aids in Southern Africa, as well as evangelizing to the indigenous peoples of South America. It will include caring for, ministering to and powerfully praying over the sick, poor in spirit, destitute, and forgotten people who the Lord absolutely cherishes. I promise you this is not a vacation. I will be waking up way earlier than my natural circadian rhythm would appreciate, living out of A BACKPACK (JESUS HELP) and sleeping in a tent for the duration of my time.
Now, I know what you are thinking: “The injured girl who has never been camping in her entire life and wears makeup daily is really trying to do this?”
YES I AM. But don’t worry, that’s what I thought at first too! I realize that the ideal candidate for the world race is someone who is strong, athletic, and outdoorsy, with high endurance and an unshakable trust in the Lord. I am none of these things. I am weak – I couldn’t even walk 6 months ago – I am incredibly clumsy – I have very little upper body strength – I am not athletic – I was not a girl scout – I use a blow dryer daily – I wrestle with God and question His goodness at times – I have doubts – I’m crippled by pride and my insecurities – I’m a sinner and a wretch. In short, I am not the ideal candidate. But I suppose God doesn’t choose people for tasks based on the world’s ideals. He likes to choose flawed people so that His perfection can be even more radiant.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (pronounced second Corinthians, not two Corinthians, if you’re reading this, Donald) reads:
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
So here I am, boasting gladly about my weaknesses. Maybe God wants me to go on this journey to indisputably depict his faithfulness and strength. I know I will not be able to serve and survive out of my own strength or love or goodness but only through HIS STRENGH and LOVE and GOODNESS can I succeed.
Let’s be honest; if I come back in one piece I will be living proof that God is real and alive and powerful because that will be a miracle.
I would not choose to embark on this Kingdom Journey if I did not hear his unmistakable calling on my life to do it. During this trip I hope to abandon myself, experience complete brokenness and become wholly dependent on the Lord.
I felt this calling shortly after I went through a life defining and altering experience last fall.
Short story: I was injured, came close to losing my foot, endured pretty excruciating pain (lots of burn debridement and surgery), was unable to move my lower body for about 2 months and had to slowly regain my ability to walk. I wrestled with God so much during this time. I questioned His goodness hourly. But He used the experience to teach me about dependence, derail my skepticism and make me question everything I thought I knew about my future and myself. He showed me that our plans are futile. I went from deciding between law school and a business graduate program to being wrecked (emotionally, spiritually and physically). I emerged with a distinct call to go love and care for the nations as I had been so lavishly loved and cared for by nurses, friends, family, and strangers alike after this event. I think He saved my feet and my life so that I could use my life to go be his hands and feet. I went from hearing about the World Race and thinking it was absolutely loony to deciding to go.
He used this tragedy to transform the condition of my heart. He made my ugly scars into a beautiful way to share my testimony and change hearts. I am honored and humbled to be living proof that He works everything together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and make’s everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). In Genesis 2:7 we learn that God made man out of dust and on August 10, 2015 I learned that we could go back there just as easily. So I urge you to not waste your time on this Earth. Rise up, take courage and do it (Ezra 10:4). Do whatever God divinely wrote out for you to do in His book before you were even formed in the womb (Psalm 139:16). For me, at this time, I truly believe this is the World Race.
That being said, I hope to write an extended blog post about my testimony regarding this event because I feel that God is calling me to be extremely vulnerable and share it. Please follow my blog on this page if you want to hear about my journey (or just need some entertainment because too many people are on your brother’s Netflix account). This is sure to be interesting.
One last thing; I NEED YOUR HELP! Here are 3 ways you can support me:
- Please PRAY! Cover me in prayer. Tell everyone to pray. If your grandma prays then tell your grandma, please. I find grandmothers are really faithful people in general. I need my prayer warriors on my side. Pray for my health, joy, peace, faith, strength, safety and financial ability. Pray for me to speak His words when evangelizing and have His power when I pray over the nations and His people. I truly believe in the power of prayer and think God can do extraordinary things through our faithful prayers, especially as a community of believers.
- I obviously need financial backing. This is awkward because asking for money is awkward but I believe it is biblical to fundraise for missions and that God wants us to humbly ask for help when He is calling us to something that we can’t do on our own. I can’t do this on my own so, all awkwardness aside, I need to raise a lot of money – over $16,000 – to go on this mission trip and I need you. I know that is a HUGE number and very intimidating but God clearly wants me to learn to trust in Him fully. Anywhere from $1 to the whole lot (looking at you, Donald) will help a ton. These funds will pay for food, travel expenses, training, materials, etc. Here’s how you can give:
- Monthly support: There are two ways to do this. If using a credit card, click the support me tab at the top of this page and click the monthly button when prompted. If you want to set up an electronic funds transfer (automatic monthly recurring gift) from your checking account go to adventures.org/dynapay and fill out the form.
- One time giving through credit card/bank transfer: click on the support me tab on the top of the page.
- One time giving by Check/Money Order: Make payable to Adventures in Missions WITH MY NAME IN THE MEMO LINE! Send it to Adventures in Missions, PO Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374-2570. Or if you just send a check to me saying it’s for this purpose I will donate it as well.
- OR you can venmo me @ElisabethChauncey and I will donate it.
- I’ll be informing you of specific fundraisers I’m doing so be on the lookout! (T-shirts coming really soon)
For more info on fundraising policies go here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwUK_IxDeOfIbHBqcEJZNlpjTzA/view.
All donations are tax deductible! I will also be sending out fundraising letters so if you want one shoot me an email to [email protected] or text at 727-967-5977 with your address and name and I’ll send you one!
- Lastly, send me a cheerful text or email or Facebook message or snapchat or something because I love encouragement that refreshes my soul.
Friends, family, acquaintances, Mom, and anyone who read this, I love you all a lot.
Sincerely,
Elisabeth
