If you have yet to hear me talk wide-eyed and manically about this crazy thing called the World Race, I’d be quick to wonder if you were living under a rock. My life has become absolutely consumed by it: by thoughts of the field, support raising, selling wristbands, writing thank you’s, blowing up my social media with posts, buying equipment—I can’t tell you the last time I bought something non-race related and that’s a HUGE deal for me—and a million more things that buzz around in my mind every day. But I still cannot believe the Lord really chose me for this, so I’m okay with having a to-do list that’s longer than I am tall and a roller coaster of emotions even though I’m usually pretty even keeled in that department.
To be honest, I’m exhausted. Those who know me personally know that I’m extremely stubborn and I have a serious need for independence. If I can do it by myself, let me and if you tell me I can’t do it by myself, I’m going to try anyway. I think it all stems from fear of being a burden on others and this is something my Dad is really working on inside of me lately. Well, I’m finally to a breaking point and I’m done; not with following Christ or with the World Race, but I’m done with trying to do all the things surrounding the Race on my own because let’s face it: that’s NOT going to happen. I’m done putting on this façade that I have no worries, that I’m not struggling even the tiniest bit with thoughts of not being able to leave with my squad in four weeks, that everything is totally under control, that I don’t wonder even if I reach the $6,500 deadline in 11 days how $9,000 more is going to come in while I’m overseas, that I’m not concerned with not having enough time to get everything done, and so many other things. But most of all, I’m done putting up the front that I’ve got it all together all the time.
The support and encouragement I have received from so many of you has been constantly astounding me, and I hope you believe me when I say that there is not even the smallest part of me that wants to ask you for more time, money, or resources. I feel like I cannot address another envelope, make another support call, re-route fundraising efforts again, face another rejection, or realize that I missed another thing I need. But I also hope you believe me when I say that I so desperately want to go to the nations to share Jesus and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get there.
I’m surrendering control, laying down my weapons of mass independence, raising my white flag of humility, and sending the S.O.S signal for help.
I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.
This is where you fine people come in (: Yes, financial support is so crucial to this trip—though I wish it wasn’t—but there are a few other ways you can help me without having to give a penny (or another penny if you’ve already partnered with me).
Four Simple Ways You Can Help Me Leave for the Nations! (borrowed from Anna Primrose)
NOMMER EEN (number one-Afrikaans): SPREAD THE WORD!
If I’m the only world racer you know leaving in September, would you please tell people about me and the mission on which God has sent me? Facebook and Twitter are prime ways to do this and it takes little to no effort to do so. Word of mouth is even better! Tell your friends, your family, your pastor, missions board, and church members, your neighbors, your dentist, your mailman, your mechanic, your local grocery store cashier, that person you make awkward eye contact with every day in the office (great way to break the tense silence!), and ANYONE else who comes to mind. If you want erinshepherd.theworldrace.org wristbands to sell/give out, let me know! It’s much easier to get things accomplished with more people involved.
第 (number two-Chinese): HELP ME WITH FUNDRAISING!
I want to have another yard sale before I leave and am contacting Outback today about a fundraiser possibility, but other than that I have nothing else planned. My network is limited in St. Albans since I haven’t really been living here for the last five years and I don’t have the means to get to other places (Morgantown, for example) for fundraising. If you have some good stuff that just lays around your house and want to get rid of it or know anyone else who does (refer back to nommer een), feel free to donate it to the sale! Know people who are musically inclined? Ask them if they’d be willing to do a benefit concert. Let your creative juices flow! If you’re the type who loves planning and organizing, would you be willing to help me organize another event before I leave? Also, should I not be fully supported by launch, I would love to have someone willing to do these things while I’m gone. Friends, this is one of the BIGGEST ways you can help!! Especially if you can be planning things after we depart next month. Even if you don't necessarily want to organize events, but could volunteer, sell tickets, or do other odd jobs, this one is for you! Please contact me ASAP if this is how you want to get involved.
HOMер три (number three-Ukranian): PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
Pray for my heart. Pray for my squad. Pray for our strength and for the people we will meet along the way. Pray for provision. Pray for ministry opportunities and for God to be evident wherever we are. Pray for the Lord to reveal to you a way you can help me or help our team. Pray for safety. JUST PRAY! And pray BOLDLY! knowing that when you ask in Jesus’ name, your prayers will be answered. If you want a full prayer list, contact me and I’ll put one together for you!
NUMERO CUATRO (number four-Spanish): JOIN MY FINANCIAL SUPPORT TEAM!
This is not about me asking for money, as I tend to convince myself that it is. Every person in the family of God is called to participate in missions, some to GO and some to SEND. I’ve been called to GO; will you please help SEND me? Gifts can either be made one-time or monthly and please trust me when I say that any amount helps. In the next 11 days, I’m trusting the Lord to provide the $1,355 I need to launch with my squad in four weeks. Payments can take a few days to process, so I really only have 7-8 days to get there. Will you please allow God to use you to make this happen? If you cannot give at this time, please refer again to nommer een and consider asking someone (or everyone!) you know. Along with this next deadline, I’m praying to develop a team of monthly partners who can continue to give a certain amount each month while I’m gone until March, when we must be fully funded. There are a couple ways to do either of these:
A) Dynapay. Just go HERE, fill out the information and they automatically deduct your donation each month until you tell them to stop. It’s tax-deductible AND there are no processing fees so EVERY cent goes towards my world race mission!
B) Through my blog. Just go HERE (the Join My Team! tab, for future reference), and pretty much do the same thing. Easy peasy!
C) By Check. Facebook message me HERE or contact me HERE and I’ll give you the 411.
D) Hire me to do something! Again, Facebook message me HERE or contact me HERE and we can set it up.
Sorry for rambling on for so long, but I have one last request: PLEASE DON’T WAIT! Don’t procrastinate like me, but take action today, my friends. Tomorrow might be too late, and I need your prayers and support NOW. I could leave in January for the race, but the Lord’s children need His healing touch NOW. I want to bring that to them, and I want YOU to be a part of it, NOW! (:
With all my heart,
Until the WHOLE world hears,
Erin
