I’ve always known that I would go to another country to have a perspective change.
When I first heard about The World Race my plan was to finish school, pay off some school debt, and save up the money to go on this trip. When I applied and got accepted on The World Race I had not finished school, I had more school debt, and zero dollars saved up for this trip. Funny how plans sometimes don’t work out the way we may have envisioned them.
It was my poor choices that had left me in the position I was in. I didn’t even have the initial $150 donation needed to secure my commitment to the trip. Much of what went through my head was “I didn’t deserve to go on this trip.” I asked “Why should I ask God to allow and provide for me to go on this trip when I had already botched up the opportunities He had given me in other things?”
But the Grace, Love, Mercy, Patience of God is so much bigger than that.
My story of how the Lord provided for me is nothing short of miraculous but not only that (see ‘chump change’ blog), it was God saying to me “Moe, My desires and plans for you and your life are not dependent on your ability. It is not dependent on how well or not well you are able to do things. It’s dependent on Me. There is no mistake too big or small for my redemption. Just seek and obey me; I will take care of the rest”
I’m telling you this because many of you are a part of my redemption story and I’m not sure you realize it. I am on The World Race because of how the Lord has spoken to your hearts. Many of you have prayed for me before and while on this trip. Many of you have encouraged me and lifted me up at the right time. Many of you have fundraised for me, bought t-shirts and bracelets from me, and told your friends about me. And many of you have given financially to me out of what you need for your own life.
You have all done this for the sake of the Kingdom, the gospel, justice and even just because you are my friends and love me. Whatever your reason I am grateful and because of your choice to be involved I have met deadline after deadline and have been able to raise $12,341.50! I am only $3,158.50 from being fully funded and meeting the final deadline for this trip on March 1st! I honestly never imagined getting to this point.
Preparing, fundraising, come on this trip is changing my limited view of God. I have been learning what it means to depend on the Lord in every way even to the point of not even having money to buy lotion and God providing it unexpectedly at the right time. I am really believing and have begun to see the depth of God’s promises. I have experienced so much freedom and restoration from hurts and wounds of my past and feel more alive than I ever have before.
But not only that, I’ve seen God in the stories and lives of believers all over the world. I have seen hope in the darkest places. I have seen God bring life to desolate places and I’ve seen him bring restoration to people and places where there has only been death. I have seen the truth of the Gospel.
I personally want to thank all of you for your part in all of this. Thank you for choosing to be apart of sending me. I pray that God would continue to show you more of Himself and continue to bring you alongside Him in His work. I pray for greater depth in Him and that you would really experience God to the fullest on this side of eternity. I love and miss you all greatly.
Moe
