This time last year I didn’t even know I would be in Costa Rica. I didn’t know I’d be gone for nine months. I didn’t know the work God would be doing in my heart. I didn’t know this is where I’m meant to be. But now here I am, in Costa Rica loving little kiddos, being poured into, seeking out my Creator, and being FULLY FUNDED! When I got accepted in January, fundraising was my biggest fear. $16,600 seemed so far out in the distance. It seemed so out of reach and I had no idea how I would ever get to be fully funded. But I realized it was out of reach…for me. I could not make $16,600 in seven months. It just wasn’t possible on my own strength with my two hands. But very early on God showed me that it was never meant to be done by my two hands. It was meant to be done by the whole body. The whole body of believers. I had to give up control and let God provide each dollar through other people and that was terrifying, but not impossible.
This road to being fully funded has been one of many Instagram and Facebook posts, lots of t-shirts, lots of support letters, tons of emails, and a lot of prayers. It pushed me out of my comfort zone to ask for help knowing there was no possible way for me to do this on my own. I tried to keep a small grip of control in the beginning by getting a job and putting my checks towards the race. But after only putting in maybe two checks I felt God telling me to stop and let him provide completely. He was telling me to take my hands off completely and hand it all over to him. That was scary in the moment but I knew he was asking for my obedience. So I stopped putting my checks in and God did exactly what he said he would, he provided. He provided through generous donors and Kingdom builders like you. Every donation left me astonished and so, so joyful. It didn’t matter the amount it just meant the world to me that people wanted to partner with me.
The less control I tried to have and the more faith I put in the Father the more he provided. He showed me that I didn’t have to be in control to get what I needed. He showed me I couldn’t do this on my own and asking for help isn’t wrong. It was actually one of the most beautiful experiences. I got to see the body of Christ become one and provide for each other.
When I first got accepted to do the race I heard God say that I would be fully funded before I left. It seemed crazy but I held onto that promise. Before I left for launch I still needed a couple thousand dollars to be fully funded. I didn’t know how God was going to provide but I still gave him control and rested in his promise to me. Right before I pulled up to the hotel for launch I got a text from a donor saying that they were going to pay the rest of what I needed in monthly installments. I was filled with joy and shock in the Lord’s timing. I was able to leave for the race with the promise of being fully funded. Now being here for a month I checked my account and saw that I was already fully funded. I was able to see a donation that was put in before I left but just took some time to come through. I was technically fully funded before I left and I didn’t even know it. As that donation was processing and I couldn’t see it yet, God gave me peace through another donor who will now get to use the rest of the money they were going to give me to help send out another missionary. God did exactly what he said he would, it just looked different than I thought it would. But I’m learning that is what faith looks like. It is putting trust in the Father and his promises to me even when I have no idea how he’ll do it. It is resting in the fact that he is a good, good Father and a promise keeper. He loves his children and I am his precious daughter.
Fundraising looked nothing like I thought it would and I’m so glad because it was so much better. It was a time of peace even in the middle of rolling t-shirts at midnight. It was having hope in a promise even when it looked like it wasn’t going to happen. It was finally letting my Heavenly Father provide everything for me despite me not being in control. It brought me closer to my Father, so thank you.
