I want to throw out a HUUUGE thank you to all of my supporters! I’m now 50% funded! That’s awesome! The Lord has done some amazing providing. Even if you haven’t given financially THANK YOU for your prayers and support. That’s been a huge blessing as well.
So for me, and I think for most people, fundraising is scary. Asking people for money is uncomfortable. Especially since I’m not an extrovert that was (and still is) one of the most intimidating parts of going on the World Race. Not including the actual amount I needed to raise! Just talking with people and sharing my heart is not normally comfortable for me. But God is growing me in that.
I’ve begun to learn that fundraising (though not easy) is an amazing opportunity. It’s an opportunity to become more connected with the body of Christ. I am preparing to be the hands and feet of Christ, but I can’t do that without help from the rest of the body.
It’s an opportunity to daily trust in God. To trust that He truly did call me to this and that He WILL provide. And it’s an opportunity to give others the chance to generously give to further Christ’s Kingdom.
$15800 is a lot of money and it’s a crazy amount to raise. But to God it is nothing. Romans 8:32 says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” That’s an amazing truth. He who gave His own Son for us, won’t he give us everything we need? He will never abandon us to figure things out on our own!
The Lord has given me courage to call friends and family and meet with them face to face and talk about this spectacular calling. It’s still hard a lot of the time to pick up the phone and initiate conversations that are uncomfortable but the Lord has been there helping me.
And not only is this process furthering my financial preparation, it is also preparing me for the work I will do on The World Race. I will be pushed outside of my comfort zone in huge ways on the Race, whether it’s doing street ministry; learning a new culture and language; or learning to live without waffles, a bed, or hot showers. Every day I will be forced to rely on the Lord and I’m beyond excited for that. I’m nervous too, but God will use it in powerful ways. Nevertheless, I’m happy for a bit of a chance to practice here at home through the process of fundraising.
Other than monetary funding I need supplies for the World Race as well. The Lord has been providing there. Thanks to awesome REI deals I’ve been able to get a very quality backpacking backpack, a tent, and a sleeping bag all for 50% off! Also the Lord has provided me with a nice rain jacket and a Patagonia backpack for free which is awesome!
The Lord hasn’t just been providing financially though. He has provided me with safety. The beginning of December I was playing PIG (around a pool table; not the basketball game). The game involves rushing around the table. Anyways I cut my leg deeply on the underside of the table when I was rushing around. Although we thought I would, I didn’t end up needing stitches and after a week I was back to my physically vigorous lifestyle. Praise the Lord that it didn’t cut deeper or that it wasn’t lower and injured my knee, which could have impeded on my ability to travel on the World Race. I know the Lord will keep me safe leading up to the trip, but I’ve definitely been a bit more cautious since then.
Through an awesome organization called Fund The Nations I’ve been able to design a shirt to sell. They are $25. Let me know if you are at all interested in buying one, or several. Or just let me know if you are interested in learning more about the World Race and why I’m going. Comment or message me.
Even if you don’t have enough for a shirt, I really appreciate any amount you can give. I love this quote by Mother Teresa: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” Don’t underestimate the value of your contribution. Or the value I and more importantly, God, puts on it. I really do appreciate any amount you can give whether it be $5, $10, or $1000. I’m reminded of the story of the widow’s offering and what Jesus said. “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” The Lord knows your situation and heart and will reward you, not based on the amount you give but based on the sacrifice that the amount is to you.
There is still a lot to raise but I’m fully trusting in the Lord and know it’ll come. I love this quote that was thrown out in my GroupMe with the other Racers in my squad. “When it comes to fundraising, work like it depends on you, but trust like it depends on God.”
Psalm 111 recently has been the cry of my heart to the Lord and I wanted to share a bit from it.
“Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!”
– Psalm 111:1-4
Thank you all for your support! (And if you’ve read all the way to here, I really appreciate it!) God bless you!
