One year ago this month, my application to a crazy 11-month-long missions trip was accepted. I was overjoyed! And apprehensive. I found elation in the prospect of getting to share life and the love of Christ with people and cultures all around the world, but I faced the task of raising $15,500 to make this possibility a reality. Scratch that. With the new insurance policy – make that $16,285.
A section of the application for the World Race asks what obstacles existed which would keep us from doing the Race. My verbatim answer: “Securing all the funds needed is my main (only?) concern.”
I was blessed with a family that supported me from the get-go. I’d just finished college and could easily leave my restaurant job. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain… if I could get the financial support I needed.
So, I prayed to my God. My God of provision, to whom money is really just paper. Then I wrote letters. To friends, family, professors, businesses, churches – you name it. And support FLOODED in. Sometimes, from such unlikely sources – college student friends giving generously, families with lots of littles letting me babysit and waaaaay overpaying me. Servers/co-wokers sneaking some of their tips to me. Checks in the mail, cash under my windshield wipers, money pressed into a handshake, packages mailed to my doorstep with specific needed supplies, gear donations from businesses…it goes on.
I was overwhelmed.
Today, I am FULLY FUNDED. That’s right, $16,285 has been raised. What seemed insurmountable has been finished. My God supplied all of my needs through His riches and glory and He used YOU to do so.
photo credit: Lauren Schraa
Thank YOU for believing in me and making this possibility a reality. I’m here because of obedience – mine, to the call of God for this trip, and yours, for giving so generously of yourself.
“Special thank you” to my church families: at Faith Christian Center, at Access Resurrection Life. It’s a huge blessing to represent you as I further the Kingdom of God all around the world.
And to my parents – I don’t even know what I’d have done without your support, guidance…everything. Mom, you made helping me your full-time job this past summer. Dad and Mom, I lack words to express gratitude for your selflessness and for believing the call of God for my life; this season. Thank you both for preparing me and for giving me fully to God.
How blessed am I that, if I were to write out the name of ever person who contributed to this journey, this blog would be ridiculously long? Thank you, thank you, thank you.
“Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God.” Hebrews 12:28 (The Message)
From my heart,
Erika Venese Wynne
