I see The World Race as an opportunity to send out a big fat invitation to everyone I can possibly reach.
As I leave for a year to love on abandoned orphans, reach out to heartbroken prostitutes, encourage the Church, and preach the Gospel to the unreached, I want to take every single one of you along with me.
Now, I've thought about packing you all up in my backpack, but it turns out that there is a 50 pound weight limit, so we're going to have to get a little bit creative. Trust me, I'm not going to let a little obstacle like that deter me from inviting you all along on this grand adventure!
Here are a few of the ways that YOU can come along with me on The World Race without having to curl yourself up to fit in a 65 liter backpack. (You're welcome.)
1. Follow me on social media. I have a twitter. I have a facebook group. I have an instagram. For now, I post little updates about fundraising, gear purchases, etc. (Of course, in a few days, I'll also be posting pictures/updates about Oklahoma!) But in just 93 days (EEK!), I will start flooding these different avenues with cool pictures of the ministry I'm doing, the people I'm meeting, the food I'm eating, the crazy animals I'm petting, and much more! I can also post short updates like: "I got to preach in a Ugandan church today!" or "Thank you for your prayers! My teammate was miraculously healed of malaria!" And, let's be real, you do not want to miss out on that kind of goodness in your news feed.
2. Subscribe to my blog. Just move your mouse over there to the left, click "Update Alerts" and enter your email address. Then, each time I post a blog, you'll get a little notification in your email inbox. That way, when I post longer stories of what God is doing in me and around me as I travel throughout the world, you can see exactly what your prayers and financial donations have produced! Don't miss out on seeing the fruit of the seeds that you've sown!
3. Support me financially. If you are truly desiring to invest in this ministry, this is a great way to do that. The first two options up there allow you to watch the journey ahead. This option allows you to actually make that journey possible! Just click here for easy instructions on how to give online or by mail. I have $1,965 left to raise before I'm fully funded. I also will be spending several thousand dollars on additional expenses (gear, flight to launch city, vaccinations) and will need a little bit of spending money (about $200/month) while on the field. If you can give one-time or monthly to my personal account to meet these needs, please let me know!
4. Pray. Pray. Pray. Seriously, guys, I saved the best one for last. When you pray for specific needs and then see God answer those needs, your faith grows. It is a beautiful thing! If you are wondering how you can pray for me right now, here are a few things that are definitely pressing on my heart:
-Please pray for my squad mates. (You can meet them by clicking here.) Our first financial deadline is coming up and it must be met for each person to go to Training Camp in July. Thanks to God's provision and your generosity, I have surpassed this deadline, but many of my new friends do not have the same level of community support that you have shown me. Please pray that God would provide for them financially and that He would grow their faith in Him in the process. Please pray that they would have peace and would be able to rest in their trust in God and that they would have wisdom about which fundraising opportunities to pursue. Please pray that God would move on people and churches to support them in their ministry.
-Please pray for my trip to Oklahoma. Kirstin and I leave in just 8 days! Neither of us have ever driven this far before, so please pray for safety and protection during our travel days. Please pray for strength and stamina to serve well and to the fullest of our ability. Pray for those leading the trips, that they would have wisdom as they plan and lead. Pray for the people of Moore and the surrounding areas, that they would see Jesus in a new and beautiful way in the midst of their pain and loss. Please pray that Kirstin and I would be so full of Jesus that He spills out on those we meet.
-Please pray for provision for my additional expenses (outlined above). I'm babysitting as much as I can and I am using my savings to cover most of these. It is more difficult than I expected to watch your savings account dwindle, but I know this is where God has called me to invest my time and money. Please pray that God would give me peace about provision during and after the race for all of my needs, as I'm not used to not having the security of a decent savings account balance. Please pray that He would move on people's hearts to give to those needs as well as my official fundraising goal of $15,500.
For those of you who have been praying already, here are a few praise reports of answered prayers. Your prayers have made a difference in my life, and I want you to see the fruit of your spiritual labor!
-I have received unbelievable financial support. As you can see above, I'm 87% funded! In just 5 months, I have received $13,535 in donations. This is nothing short of a miracle. What more is there to say?
-God has been faithfully teaching me and preparing my heart for the next season during my time at home. This is the first summer I haven't had a structured job/internship/program in years, but it has not felt aimless in the least. I have been able to read old journals, dive into some powerful works of Christian nonfiction, work through a fantastic Beth Moore Bible Study, pray, journal, and learn. In just the first month, God has taught me so much about Himself and His place in my life (past, present, and future). I am so thankful for all He is doing in this season.
-I have had some really cool ministry opportunities even during this summer. For example, last night, I was able to teach my home church's high school class. I posted a Tweet beforehand asking for prayers and some of you must have been lifting me up because I absolutely felt the Holy Spirit's presence and power during that time! The students were a joy to teach. They were fully engaged, responsive, and participatory. They listened closely and allowed the lesson to refresh their hearts and minds. We talked about salvation, sanctification, and living a life empowered by the Holy Spirit every day. It was awesome!
Friends, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your prayers. They're working. Thank you for your financial support. You've blown me away with your sacrificial generosity. It is such an honor and pleasure to share this journey with you– through social media, on my blog, with prayer requests, and in financial need & provision.
Thank you for coming with me. It just wouldn't be the same without you.
