I feel like a broken record in saying this, but $18,000 is SO. MUCH. MONEY. Can we just take a moment to appreciate what all you could do with $18,000…
You could buy like eight mostly functioning cars from the 90’s.
You could take the whole squad to Disney World for a few months, even stay in one of the ~nice~ resorts.
You could secure a lifetime supply of ice cream for you and your entire family. (Ben & Jerry’s too, you wouldn’t even have to go for the off-brand on sale.)
You could make a sizable dent in your student loans. (Okay ya got me, maybe these are just the things I would do.)
OR, you could instead abandon your privileged American life for eleven months to serve in real and raw communities in eleven different countries, eleven different cultures, eleven different glimpses into the kingdom of God. You could step out into the unknown, saying no to earthly possessions and saying yes to becoming a disciple of Jesus. You could ask the Lord to broaden your perspective and shatter everything you’ve ever known in your young adult life.
I’m not saying this to draw attention or to pat myself on the back for my decision to go on the World Race. I’m saying this because I’m a sinful and ugly human and a product of my selfish generation. And in the last few months since I began fundraising, I have focused on the money more than I care to admit. I’ve stressed and worried myself sick, even considered that $18,000 is too much and questioned if it’s worth it.
But then an idea occurred to me. Or better yet, I should say Jesus occurred to me. Raising this much money is one of the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But what if that’s the point? What if this is teaching me a trust I didn’t even know I was lacking? Won’t going on the World Race knowing I relied on the Lord completely, with every ounce of me, every single step of the way, make the end experience that much more life-changing, that much more meaningful and impactful?
When you’re raising $18,000 every single dollar received, every single mile funded is a HUGE victory. There’s no denying or under-appreciating that fact. I can’t say thank you enough to everyone, whether I know you personally or not, who has shown me so much love, grace, generosity, and support throughout this journey that has still only just begun. I am completely blown away at how quickly the Lord has shattered the scale in my mind of what I deem possible. I am feeling so unbelievably blessed these days that He has chosen ME of all people for this for lack of better words, extraordinary experience. That will never get old.
