"For from Him and through Him and to
Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever!
Amen." – Romans 11:36
I've heard about the World Race a little over a year ago. I applied a month after that and I've been preparing for the Race for 10 months.
And now I'm not going.
This is just so frustrating! How could I have worked so hard for so long and yet now I can't go?! I thought I prayed enough. I pushed myself to doing 30 hours a week just on fundraising. I put together many, many, many fun fundraisers together. Met with a lot of people. I knew what the Bible said about missions and heard how to properly fundraise. Yet here I am, stuck.
I keep looking back thinking what I did wrong. I mean, I raised $1,100 in 6 days! I could easily raise $3,500 in 4 weeks! Yet only $800 came in. Then I remembered Training Camp (TC) and its outcome.
At TC I learned many things. The biggest take away was a quote about fundraising.
Fundraise like it all depends on you,
but have faith and know that it all depends on God.
I have been quoting that since I've heard it. Don't depend on yourself to get you through all of this because it won't happen. You need God. Since I've been home from TC, God has given me overwhelming peace over the finances for the trip. Even as I gripe and complain about not seeing money in my account, God is still filling me with His peace. Heck, through the 10 months since I've applied God has shown me hundreds of confirmations that I am going on the World Race.
Yet I'm still not going! My entire year is going to be changed in a matter of 4 days when the deadline closes! Today is technically the last day that people can donate online for the money to get into my account on time. But to get $2,700 in 1 day!?
That's impossible. Literally no way that I am going.
Everyone else has shown a way that God has provided. And it has already happened so I'm not going.
But those are their stories. That's not mine. Steve might have had several high up meetings with donors, Olivia may have had savings that God wanted her to put into her missions account, Nate could have had one single donor that covered the entire cost.
But I'm Hunter. And God has a story for me that I'm waiting for.
I said this many times and I'm going to say it again. I can't do this missions trip alone. Who would want to? I need people to encourage me. I need people to financially support me. I need people to pray for me. God didn't say, it's all up to the called missionary to build the Kingdom of God. We are all on a mission together. To build the Kingdom together.
I need to ask you for a favor. It's the smallest thing that I can ask for which ultimately turns into the biggest outcome. I ask that you join me in prayer. Ask God if He wants you to support this missions trip. But more specifically Ask God if YOU are called to walk beside me emotionally, spiritually, or financially and support my calling as a missionary. If God has called you then He will provide.
I appreciate all of the support that everyone has provided for me. The Holy Spirit has definitely spoken through a lot of people and it has been a great journey so far. I can't explain where God is going to lead me next. I know that no Christian organization, missions trip, book, activity or person will compare to where God is going to lead me next. The World Race isn't my final destination, it's just the beginning to many more finishing points that I still have to cross.
I love you all so much.
Your Brother in Christ,
Hunter Young
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