I’d like to start off by saying I am proud that my daughter Julie has undertaken the World Race. From what I’ve learned, this will be a tremendous endeavor. I admire her courage and commitment to leave the comforts of home and serve selflessly. When friends, family, or strangers ask me if I am worried about her travelling to underdeveloped countries in uncertain times, I am not. I have faith that God will not lead her where His grace will not protect her. Am I worried that she’ll become ill? The bajillion immunizations should prevent that. (Ok, maybe I’m a little worried that she’ll forget where she left her inhaler, but we have a few months before her launch date to work on that.) Am I worried about her getting homesick? I hope she misses us, but not too much. I’ll miss her.
What I am worried about is this: I have worried that she would be disappointed if she fails to raise the funds needed to launch. I had the privilege to be with her at the moment she realized that she had met her first financial deadline. It brought tears to both of our eyes-easy for Mom, not so easy for Julie.
Seeing your child’s hopes dashed is heartbreaking. Believe me. I know from experience. When Julie first started talking about the World Race, the cost of funding this trip, and the time frame in which to accomplish this, I was skeptical. Being the realist that I am, I began to pepper her with questions and hypotheticals. What happens if you don’t raise the funds in time? What happens if…? If…? If…? Sometimes, I’ll admit, these discussions became rather heated. She would refuse to address these concerns on the grounds that to acknowledge them was to “prepare to fail.” You and I might think that’s illogical and perhaps naïve. If I know my child, she had already faced these scenarios in her nightmares. But what FAITH to resolve to not give thought and energy to the possibility of failure!
During a later discussion on the number one topic, I was presented with another lesson on faith by my getting-wiser-by-the day daughter. In this lesson, I was feeling sorry for myself and guilty that I could not help out as much as I would like financially. She then related the following wisdom that must have circulated among the World Racers. The moral of the story goes something like this: IF each of these young people COULD fund this trip on their own, or their parents could pay their way, it would be called a VACATION, not a MISSION TRIP. It seems this is the first test of faith-fundraising.
One of Julie’s supporters recently gave $101.00 to her World Race. There have been financial gifts in a variety of increments, and all have been appreciated as they have helped her get this far. What makes this gift unique is that I know where this person works, and I know her income supports her family of four. This woman gave more than according to her means .She, better than anyone knows what hardships await Julie in her mission. In this woman’s culture, the gift of $101.00 dollars is given for luck or well wishes for a significant celebration such as a wedding. The first $100 is the gift for the recipient, but the final dollar is a loan intended to be repaid when the giver and receiver meet again in the future, thus bidding the safe return. It was after this gift that a breakthrough in fundraising occurred, and in less than a week, Julie’s first deadline was met.
I am OVERWHELMED by the response Julie has received thus far. Contributions large and small continue to flood in from people in our day to day lives, people we haven’t seen in a while, acquaintances, and complete strangers who have heard about her World Race. This past weekend, friends of Julie’s hosted a fundraiser. This onetime event brought in just over $2000.00 during a four hour time span. She is far from finished being 42% funded, but I no longer question that this trip will happen thanks to generosity of people like you.
Please share Julie’s journey of faith while fundraising with your family and friends. It just may spur the next breakthrough she needs.
“They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.” Mark 12:44
