God wants me to go on the world race…
God answers prayers. It’s a fact. So I thought I would share some incredible ways God has provided for me and pretty much given me no other option but to obey Him and go on the World Race. Everyone loves a good praise report so here is a few of mine…
Super Short Testimony:
I applied for the World Race July of 2013. I knew that I wanted to take a year off before starting grad school and go on some mission trips, since the past 21 years of my life had been so full of my activities that I didn’t have time to dedicate any time to the mission field abroad. I figured I have been a Christian for 21 years it’s time to take this faith to a new level. I heard about the world race through two random people from a college bible study I went to on campus. As soon as I heard about it I signed up because it seemed like it was going to be full adventure and new places, people, and cultures and that is all right up my alley. I was accepted within a few weeks and then I guess it hit me, like “Wow, you just signed up to leave everything and everyone you know for like almost a whole year. What are you thinking?”
So I was excited but it still didn’t seem very real. Then I started to doubt going on the trip for a bit. Thinking, “oh my gosh, everything will be different when I come home. My friends will have moved on. Will I be weird? Will they be weird? That has to be too long to be away from everything you know.” So I didn’t really do anything for about eight months. I had been accepted to the race and I told people that I was doing it but I was still not 100% sure. And because I wasn’t 100% sure I didn’t want to start fundraising until I knew 10000% that I was going because all donations are non-refundable.
Fundraising Prayer Answered.
So $16,250.00 is an overwhelming amount for my little brain to comprehend, but it was a piece of cake for God. He just needed me to take the initiative. So in April I started fundraising…I started at $0.00. Within less than three months God has provided over $12,500 in donations through family and friends. That. Is. Incredible! Trust God with your finances, He WILL provide. I am so grateful for every person that has given to this cause and supported me big or small. You are a blessing 
Vaccines. Check.
I got a bunch of vaccines for this trip, like eight. And for a girl that hates needles that is A LOT. My mom called around to so many places to see who would take our insurance to cover the vaccines because they are very pricey. She found one place an hour away that the insurance said would cover everything except my Japanese insephilitis. So I got all the shots and then the bill came a few weeks later. The bill had nothing covered by insurance. $2,400 bill. Not good. So my Mom called the insurance company and explained that she talked to someone that said it was going to be covered. The insuruance lady said, “No ma’am, we don’t cover any traveling vaccines. I’m sorry but he told you wrong information. Let me see what I can do.” My mom’s heart dropped. That is a lot of unexpected money to put out. The lady came back on the phone and explained that they really don’t cover it at all BUT since someone had told my mom wrong information, they were going to COVER 100% OF THE COST! Bill went from $2,400 to $0. Yup, that’s God working again
Looking for a backpack, found a friend and the best resource ever!
I went to REI to get some of my gear for the trip. Going in pretty much blind because I haven’t gone camping since I was 8 and I don’t think anyone really knows how to prepare to live out of a backpack for a year until you have actually done it. So, I’m in REI getting fitted for my pack and after an hour of working with me, the Rei guy that was helping me said, “ Ya know, I think my manager went on some religious trip like this, let me see if she’s working.” It just so happened she was working that night, and she went on the WORLD RACE! What are the chances!? Within one minute of meeting me she wrote down her name and number and said, “Meet me for lunch or coffee soon, I’m going to tell you everything you need for the race and answer any questions you have about the World Race. Oh, and since I work at REI I’m going to buy a bunch of your gear and donate it to you, and you can go through my gear closet at home and take whatever you need.” Wow. I was amazed and knew that God is watching over me and was pretty much shaking me saying “I am going to provide! Just do it!” My REI miracle has become a friend and an amazing resource and I am SO thankful that God brought her in to my life.
Wanda the Honda.
I bought my car two summers ago and I love little Wanda the Honda civic. I plan on driving my kids around in that car someday so I did not want to give her up. I was worried about saving up enough money to cover all the payments while I was gone for 11 months but as usual God provided. My tax refund was much more than I expected and between that and my graduation gifts, all my payments were covered. Such a relief. God is looking down at me saying, “TRUST ME! I want good things for you, and I will bless you. Just Trust Me.”
The moral of the story is God will provide. He knows your heart. He knows your thoughts and desires. He wants good things for us but most of all, He wants us to rely on Him and not be burdened by the things of this world. I had my doubts but at this point, God has provided so much that even if I wanted to say no, I couldn’t because He is doing everything I need Him to do to make this trip possible.
I am so blessed at what God has done so far and how much he is provided. He is continuing to bless me and I pray that He would bless you too! We serve a Big God, expect Him to do Big Things!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
