On February 2nd, I was notified by my squad leader Amy that I was fully funded. Let me just set the scene for how incredible and miraculous this truly is.
At the beginning of January, I still had $3,419 to raise. Guys, that’s not a small number. I really struggled to wrap my head around the idea that I was going to be fully funded by the 31st. It seemed impossible and overwhelming. I racked my brain for possible donors, and I felt that I kept coming up short of names. Still, I sent out emails to past supporters, Facebook messages to people I haven’t talked to in forever, and prayed that some of them would have open hearts to give. After a few rejections and a lot of no answers, I really had to ask God if I was meant to go home. If my Race was only meant to be four months. If I was okay if going home is His will. I decided that whatever was His will, I would accept, but I felt it in my bones that I was meant to be on the Race for all eleven months.
I agonized over fundraising for a couple of weeks. During our last week in Zimbabwe, my team and I decided to go to Hwange National Park as our designated adventure days. I decided this was a good way to step back from fundraising and just trust God to be God. My team and I were so blessed to have our host Jeff take us to a campsite in the middle of the park so that we could literally camp in the wild bush of Africa. The only thing protecting us from the animals was a fence. A fence with many holes in it. (Don’t worry Mom, we were fine!)
Let me tell you, the trip was amazing! We had a blast searching for and following kudu, elephants, giraffes, and zebra in Jeff’s truck. At the end of the night, we came back covered in dirt and burned from the blazing hot sun, but we had the biggest smiles plastered on our faces.
As fun and exciting as our trip was, I still felt guilty that I was paying for a safari but still expected people to support my mission. But the Lord wanted me in the bush so he could teach me more about His character.
We all really wanted to see a lion. But we hadn’t seen one the first day nor the second. Jeff mentioned that it’s pretty rare to see lions. The chances are pretty much 1 in every 10 trips will see lions. We resigned ourselves to the possibility that we would not see wild lions in Africa. On our way back to the campsite on the second night, Kenadi yelled at Jeff to stop. A lone female lion was drinking at one of the watering holes. It was a magnificent sight to behold even though she was alone.
Early the next morning, we packed up our gear and got back into Jeff’s truck to leave the camp. Back at the same watering hole, we saw the same lioness. Jeff realized that she might have been sent by the hunting pack to scout. All of a sudden, we saw about ten lions prowling at the tree line. They too were making their way over to the watering hole. The Lord provided even more than we asked for.
It gets better! When started driving again, we were blocked by two more male lions j-chillin in the middle of the road. Lord. Why are you so good?
In that moment, I could hear Him speak clearly to me. See, child how I care for your desires that I would send you a pride of lions in the last hour. Have faith that I will provide more than enough for you to continue to work in My will. Trust my timing.
Well, when the Lord speaks you can’t really deny His words. So I believed that He would provide in His timing.
And guess what! I am FULLY FUNDED! And He sent me more than I needed. What the heck?
The Lord is just so good.
I want to thank everyone who donated and prayed on my behalf. Seriously, my mind and spirit are blown away. Because of you all, I get to continue to travel to six more countries to spread the love of the Lord. THANK YOU ALL!!!
