I had plans to write a completely positive uplifting blog about how immensely blessed I have been in the fundraising process, which truly, I have been. As many of you know I am required to raise $15,500 in order to participate in the World Race; this covers travel, food and lodging while I am on the field. To this day, due to God's blessings through all of YOU, I have raised $14,341.38. This is INCREDIBLE. Many Racers go through challenging fundraising processes, but God made this part of my journey joyful. I have until January 1, 2014, to raise the remaining $1,158.62. I am 100% confident that this will happen!
This fundraising, however, does not cover any of the other costs associated with going on an 11 month around the world trip. When I began to fundraise I was so focused on getting the $15-5 (how I refer to it in my head) that I thought, "Ok God, if you can cover all of that with donations and such, then I will get the rest of it!" If I'm honest with myself, that came from a mentality struggling to believe that God would even provide the $15-5, let alone the thousands of dollars needed to cover these other costs. Well let me tell you, the other costs have been rolling in and my stress level has been rising. Up until this point either my parents or I have paid out-of-pocket for all of these extra expenses. My parents have been extremely generous, but they recently purchased a house and have reached their maximum on what they can give. (As much as children would like to believe it, parents are not an endless source of income!) And as for me, I have been unemployed for over a month now, so money keeps going out, but nothing is coming in.
As my stress began to rise, I began to pray. I felt serious conviction over my lack of trust in God to provide ALL of the money needed. I admitted that I had been wrong to think that way and began to step into a place of trust. The first thing He told me to do was to make this need public, like very public. So that's what I'm doing even though I think it's a little embarrassing and I don't like being needy or asking people for money- obviously I have to get over that! In the spirit of making this public, here are the expenses that have either already happened or will happen in the near future:
$350- Plane tickets to and from Training Camp
$160- Plane ticket to Atlanta for launch
$45- Visa Pictures
$75- Shipping costs to get India Visa
$300- Vaccinations
$300- Travel Insurance
$900- REI gear (tent, pack, day pack, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, packing cubes, pillow, etc etc)
$600+- Other gear (clothes, toiletries, electronics cases, etc etc)
$2400- Student Loans while I am gone
$???- Malaria and other prescription medication (at the very least a few hundred dollars-getting this priced soon)
So there are my needs. I know that many of you reading this have already donated to my trip, and for that I am very grateful. What I am asking now is that you pray and see what God would have you do with this information. Share it with friends, share it on social media, tell your church, let an organization know, or give more if that is what He is calling you to do. As I have trusted God to make this need known, I pray that you in turn will trust God with what He leads you to do.
Donations for these extra expenses will not be tax deductible as they are going to be directly to me and not to AIM. If you are feeling called to donate then right now you can either give to me in person or send cash/check to me at 6 Roads End Lane, Richmond, VA 23238. I have until July 3 before I launch, so time is sensitive right now.
I am 100% positive that God has called me to the World Race and that He will provide all that I need in order to go. So now I'm going to keep preparing and keep trusting Him. I can't wait to see what He will do!
