My Dearest Supporters,
As you may well know the World Race has been a journey even before I left the U.S. For months I fundraised, prepared, and asked for prayer and so many people in my life came alongside me in the process. All of you! People who have been in my life for years and people I met an hour prior. You helped me. Most importantly you supported me. I was overwhelmed and amazed by the outpouring I received in every way.
From letters and dinners to silent auctions and raffles. From friends asking friends, to a cocktail making class. Even dancing on the street corner with a handmade sign. The money came in.
I was astounded time and time again with the Lord’s provision and how hard it is to wait for it. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life! I know that God provides but so rarely do I have to walk through trusting in that. I know that He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” and everything is His but do I ever get to see that? He longs to show us how much He wants to provide for us when we are living in His will. The way hearts and wallets were opened so generously and various amounts were given blew my mind. The $5.00 and $10.00 onetime gifts or monthly commitments meant just as much as the $1,000 check. I was especially astounded at who gave. People from a short season in my life who simply wanted to support me and all that God is doing in this season. In whatever way they could. People who I knew couldn’t afford it and were more than generous, lavish even. People, like I said I didn’t even know, had met just moments before who had become inspired to give. The money made the difference, made this World Race happen.
But a lot of times support means more than just money. Most of the time actually. Sometimes it means saying “Wow! I am so happy for you, that sounds exciting!” when everyone else is saying no. Support is “let me know if I can help” even if you didn’t fully mean it. Sometimes support means hearing you say “I will be praying for you” and knowing you really will pray. Support is most definitely prayers. Sometimes support is an encouraging comment on social media right when my heart needs it most. Support is asking questions. Support is giving space to be present. Support is “I’m proud of you”. Support is “following Jesus is hard!”. It has even been “Crystal Light” when plain water was our only drink for 2 months. Support was my tearful goodbyes and my “can’t wait to hear your stories!”.
This support makes things possible.
I’ve spent the past several months reading through the gospels. Reading through Luke one day I came across this passage and immediately thought of everyone who supports me:
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases… …These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
-Luke 8: 1-3
As I travel on this World Race, from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, you are with me. You are helping to support me out of your own means. In whatever way you have supported me, in every way.
I love how Luke didn’t mention the specific ways these women were supporting Jesus and the disciples. He didn’t say, “and these women paid for all their food” or “these women formed a prayer chain” or even “these women followed them around and did all their laundry”. He most certainly didn’t say that these women gave money or paid for things. Or the specific amount that each woman gave. I’m sure they did as one can assume by the words “out of their own means”. But I am also certain that he chose his words carefully and left that verse open ended for a reason. Support looks like so much more than just money and someone’s “own means” can mean so many different things.
Support is an ongoing, ever-present, 2+ year long journey that has taken many forms. It is YOU. And no matter it’s form, the gratitude I feel for it still has trouble forming into words. I guess that is the nature of being in awe.
So just know, supporters, that you are in my heart and in my prayers. Know that you are bringing God’s kingdom on earth. That you are helping to support Jesus’ works and support me out your own means. Know that all you have done means more than the world to me, it has brought the world to me.
Know that you are with me.
And please know that Thank You just isn’t enough. It never will be.
Most Sincerely,
Mary
