So i guess that title could go with just about anything in this world right? You have stuff, but that stuff is not really yours? Not true? When you die where does it go? Thats right, youre dead, it doesnt matter to you anymore because youre dead and all your stuff for some reason isnt with you. So the question is, what did you do with your stuff when you had it? How did you use it?
This of course sets up the mindset that we as Christ followers should strive to adhere to, that we are to be good stewards of the things God gives us; because all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him right? (Romans 11:36, 1 peter 4:10-11, Revelations 5:13 and this one’s a freebie, cause it hasnt even happened yet)
Ill be the first to admit that I fail terribly at this and choose to be the servant who sleeps and not the one who keeps watch (Luke 12:35-48). God is still gracious enough to bless me with way more than I need. Ill walk you through my support raising efforts:
When I applied for this mission trip, I knew exactly how much it would cost for me to be able to go and I had no idea where this money would come from. I told my parents about it and because they are awesome and they love Jesus, they didn’t freak out. Instead they sent me a list of their awesome friends who also love Jesus and their addresses. I was sending support letters to people that I had never met, and they were writing me checks. That is crazy, and all I did was write a letter, address an envelope, and put a stamp on it.
Then because I have awesome friends who love Jesus, they decided to throw me a lunch/dinner drop-in where all I did was show up and people came and made donations. Then another awesome friend of mine who loves Jesus had put together a benefit concert to raise money for something she was going to do but didnt work out, so instead of canceling it, she told me that I could just have it. All I did there was show up.
So in the midst of all my showing up to places and putting letters in the mail to people I didn’t know, I sometimes felt the need to DO SOMETHING. I sometimes felt like I had to earn this in some way. I was reminded of a similar story when God grabbed me by the eye balls and pointed to the cross and said “See? I did it for you. And it was MY JOY! Now pick up yours and follow me.”
The Lord has taught me so much just through sitting and watching my support come in. I literally mailed some letters and that is it. I didn’t have to plan anything, or call people about this or that, or invite people to come to anything… So with some of that desire I had toward feeling like I needed to do something, and not having anything to do but watch my own support be placed in my lap, how should I have been a steward of that? I should have helped to support my teammates, who I also call my brother and sisters. …But I fell asleep. And that is a confession of my sin.
I THANK everyone who has given to support me. You are now partners with me. As of right now, June 10th, 4:13am, there is $13,376.70 in my account. I have $500 more in pledges. That means I am only down $423.30. This is AWESOME!
If you have not given and were planning to, or want to, please consider writing your checks to someone else and not me. Here is a list of people whom any one, you can support
kristippett.theworldrace.org
anmaririvera.theworldrace.org
lilimejia.theworldrace.org
stephaniewebster.theworldrace.org
ashleyvanhouttum.theworldrace.org
jessicasims.theworldrace.org
jennifermiele.theworldrace.org
rachelleuribe.theworldrace.org
sarahhogan.theworldrace.org
oh, and this is my TEAM! our team name is KOINONIA
