I’m a World Race team treasurer.
I’m a World Race team treasurer during an Unsung Heroes month.
I’m a World Race team treasurer during an Unsung Heroes month, again, for the 2nd time in the past 6 weeks.
As I much as I try to act like it isn’t a big deal, it really is. It is stressful. As if I weren’t already ‘thrifty’ enough when it came to my personal finances, always wanting a better deal and hating to pay for something that I can get for free, this situation is different because it isn’t my money … it’s YOURS! I am responsible for the food, transportation, lodging, etc of 6 other people, trying to make a little money stretch a looooong way, and sometimes making my team unhappy; I’m doing this on your dime, managing the money donated by my supporters and the supporters of my team.
Trust me, this is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. So, when our UNSUNG HEROES (UH) month started off on the wrong foot by staying in a hostel that costs twice the amount our budget allowed and spending $1 extra on food per person per day, my natural response was to go in stealth mode – clenching my fist and my wallet and coming up with an air-tight plan that would get us back on track.
I first felt prompted to ask our hostel if they could give our team a discounted rate (the same rate that they gave our squad of 50 people the previous night). Although I never got the courage to ask them to give us a different rate (fear and pride got in the way – both things that God is currently helping me to overcome), my teammate Lauren did ask him multiple times, without me ever mentioning that I wanted to make that request. Each time that she asked him, she was refused. Instead of me asking personally, I said a prayer mentioning to God what I wanted, left it alone, and tried to get over the fact that I was afraid.
Later, asked myself, “Self, what do YOU neeed to do, change, or say in order to make sure we don’t go over budget this month?” I could alter our daily budget for a few days until everything evens out, I could also accept the fact that Unsung Heroes is practically synonomous with going over budget, or I could put it all in God’s hands and let Him have His way … I decided on the latter and surrendered it all to God.
Rather than complaining about starting out on the wrong foot, I told my team that it will be ok. Instead of speaking ABOUT my circumstance, I spoke TO it. I read a few days prior the story of David and Goliath, and for the first time I noticed how David prophesied that the Lord would deliver the Philistine giant into his hands. He made this declaration in front of Saul and the rest of the Israelite army. He professed it boldly, based on how God had come through for him in the past. In the same manner, I decided to tell my team that I fully believe God will work things out for our good. When they asked me how I was feeling, because they knew what the money situation was looking like, I told them that I was not worried because God will bring us people who will provide food and lodging for us … and I left it at that.
The next day, Kath, our UH Coordinator told us that one of our ministry contacts offered us housing, meals, and other ministry opportunities in Malaysia; although we won’t be able to spend this entire month in one place with them, having just a few days of food and lodging provided makes a HUGE difference in our budget! Shortly after this announcement, we checked out of our –too expensive– hostel to move somewhere within our budget. As I went to pay the bill, the desk clerk looked at me and said, “Hey, just because I’m a nice guy, I’m only gonna charge 200 ringet”. I gladly accepted the discount! I knew it was cheaper than what we were expecting to pay, but I hadn’t calculated what we ended up paying per person. After doing the calculation, I realized that the amount he charged us was exactly the same rate that our squad was charged the previous night! Exactly the same rate that Lauren asked for! Exactly the same rate that we were denied on multiple occassions!
I identified during our Cambodia month 5 debrief that God wanted to teach me about faith and trust this month, specifically in the area of TOTAL SURRENDER. I’m learning what it means to release all of my control to Him, instead of just saying that I trust Him without putting any action behind it. Complete surrender means surrendering even the responsibilities that He has given me back to Him. In this situation, God revealed two things to me:
A) I must speak things out in faith even when I don’t know whether it will happen or not. Our words have so much power and speaking God’s will to other believers gives them the opportunity to partner with me in believing it will come to pass.
B) I must trust in God’s provision and the unlimited resources He possesses. God desires to take care of us. He wants to come through for us. He wants to give us reasons to brag (and blog) about His goodness. My trust gives Him the chance to make that happen.
Even since this happened, God has been surprising my team with blessings from everyone that we’re meeting. The manager at our current hostel gave us money from his own pocket to help pay for our stay without going over budget, since the prices that he had to charge us were mandated and reviewed by his corporate boss. God is just so good!
This month of growing in faith and trust isn’t only occurring in regards to UH matters, but also in raising support for this race. This month marks month 6 of The World Race, the last month that I have to fundraise all of my support. I have less than 4 weeks to raise $1200; looking at the monthly donations that I have coming in, the circumstances say that it won’t happen. However, God has shown me the power in speaking things that are not as though they were. He’s shown me the power of inviting other believers to stand along side me in prayer. He’s shown me the power of trusting in HIS provision.
Just like I proclaimed to my team that I fully believed God would come through for us, I am proclaiming to you that God will provide the funds needed for reaching my final fundraising deadline. I have chosen to push my fear and pride aside, speak to my circumstance, pray a prayer of faith, and trust in my Provider. Thank you for your prayers and support. I’m excited to see how God decides to show up this time!
If you would like to support me, please click on the “Support Me” link on the left! Any donation made would be greatly appreciated. God Bless!
