$17,417 is a lot of money. I knew that when I applied for the race. I knew it when I interview for the race. I knew it when I accepted my invitation to go on the race. And I knew it when I put my first $150 into the race. I told God I wanted to go, I knew He was calling me to go, but he was going to have to take care of the money. I literally could not raise or save that much money.
And now I am sitting in Sri Lanka, 10.5 hours ahead of my home, looking at my laptop and the email that confirms that I am fully funded. I have $17,417 in my account, and I cannot believe it. At every deadline, I thought that surely it wouldn’t happen and every single time, God provided before the deadline came.
But the amount was never where God called my focus to be. From the beginning He said, “Focus on the relationships, and I’ll take care of the money.” While I saw people fundraising and wanted to do something to bring in the money, my spirit told me no. So I talked to people and just focused on the people that were in my life (and prayed a lot).
God used the people in my life to get me here. He used y’all. People from college, people from church, my family, my friends, my co-workers, my mom’s friends, people I worked with for the blink of an eye, people I haven’t seen since I was a baby. Everyone. I go through my donor tracker, and I know every name (except that one anonymous donation). I have memories with each of you. It makes my heart so happy to see the family and community God has built in my life, and that you all support me and trust that I hear from God.
So as I travel around the world, you travel around the world. As I help people, you are here helping. As I get to know people and build relationships, you are behind me and in those relationships.
Missions is not only the people who go. It is also the people who send. It is the people who encourage. It is the people who pray.
I am so thankful for each and every person that has followed me in this journey. Thank you for the donations. Thank you for the prayers. Thank you for the encouraging words. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made. I see it, and God sees it. You listened and were a part of a miracle, and I am grateful.
Here are a few ways that this $17,417 breaks down:
Over 43 people/groups donated
7 monthly donors 2 organizations 15 repeated donors
Monthly donors gave almost $7,000: 40% of total donations
One-time donors gave over $3,000: 18% of total donations
Church Family: over $8,300 (48%)
Work Family: over $2,000 (11%)
