I was about 12 days from my $10,000 fundraising goal and $800 short of reaching it. Before I knew it, it was a Wednesday and I was 8 days from my $10,000 fundraising goal, and still about $650 away from reaching the goal. After wrapping up a zucchini bread fundraiser and putting in a few more donations, I was just $346 away from reaching the $10,000. WOW. 8 days away from the deadline, and $346 to go.
I posted a fundraising update on instagram before heading to youth, and went on about my day. Little did I know, God was working behind the scenes, and as I walked into church I was handed an envelope by my sweet friend Megan. On it said “go change the world” and as she handed it to me she said, “it’s from an anonymous donor and there is $346 in it”. YALL THATS GOD. I asked her a solid five times who it was from but she wasn’t budging. I mean what the heck!!?? Holy guacamole- I was just handed the exact amount I needed to reach the $10,000. Literally handed.
A few minutes went by and my dear friend Abbey walks up and says, “It was me. I’m the anonymous person.” Let’s just get one thing straight. Abbey is such a jokey person to the point where I really did think she was just joking. BUT SHE WASN’T. She was dead serious. I couldn’t believe it. Tears were shed, and lots of hugs were given, and all I could say was thank you.
Through this experience, my eyes were opened in a whole new way. I realized that this fundraising process isn’t just about me trying to get to the world race. It’s not about just reaching a fundraising deadline. It really has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with Him. God is working and moving in other people’s hearts. He’s leading them to donate and support others in their calling. He’s simply leading them to help build the Kingdom through giving.
One of my most favorite things about this moment was that Abbey looked at me and she said, “I got paid today, and I felt like God was telling me to give it to you”. AND YALL. SHE DID. I find it truly so amazing and beautiful that Abbey was listening the the Lord. She was in tune with what He was telling her. She was obedient to what He was asking of her.
I am so thankful that I reached my $10,000 fundraising deadline with the help of Abbey’s donation, but I’m even more thankful for her heart. She’s obedient to the Lord, she’s strong, she’s got the power of the Holy Spirit living within her and that’s a power like no other. Getting to see the Lord work through someone while also providing for me has been one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
To be completely honest, at the beginning of all of this I had no idea how much I was truly going to have to lean in and trust God that He would bring in the funds. Over the last 3 months I’ve realized that I really can’t do this alone. Not only do I need to cling onto, and trust God, but I also need to lean on you guys! My friends, my family, my supporters. As someone who tends to try to do most things on their own- something I am working on- it’s been a stretching process reaching out and asking others for help, but with lots of prayer and trusting it’s beginning to become a little bit easier. As of today we currently have $10,345 fundraised, and $5,455 to go. I am blown away by all of the giving hearts the Lord has placed in my path. God really does show up, and he provides in ways that we couldn’t even imagine. Thank you to everyone who has supported me by donating, in prayer, or both! This season of my life has just begun and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in my heart and through others.
Throughout this fundraising process, I’ve seen the beauty in giving and I can‘t wait to see God’s beauty unravel even more before my eyes these next 9 months. Through receiving other people’s giving, and even giving myself, I’ve seen and experienced the Lord in a whole new way! Through our giving we we are helping launch others into their Kingdom calling. Through our giving we are being obedient to the Lord. Its truly beautiful how God wants us to give!
I leave September 9th to head to Atlanta and prepare for launch. That means just 15 days left here at home, and 18 days left on US soil before I’m off the my first country- Swaziland. It’s a whirlwind of emotions, but God is MOVING my sweet friends and family. I can’t wait to continue sharing this journey with you!
