One month left to fundraise!
No internet!
No communication!
But that’s okay! God will provide.
I have one more month to raise the remaining amount I have left to fundraise.
The remaining amount is over $4,000 but I’ve raised over $2,000 in 24 hours before. A month is plenty of time.
Why do I want to stay on the race?
That’s not an easy question to answer. There are many reasons to stay on the race but the most important one is that I truly believe that I am in the place I’m supposed to be in.
God literally took me off the race, miraculously healed me, and placed me back with my squad. I rejoined 42 teammates in Europe. I finished my first month as a healthy and strong World Racer last month and I’m only getting better.
God has done big things in my life. He has changed me in many ways.
Why won’t I have any communication?
I’m in China this month and my squad is fasting using the internet. It is for the protection of ourselves and the contacts we will be working with.
What if I don’t raise the remaining amount?
Well, I don’t believe that will happen but let’s just go with it. If I don’t raise the remaining amount, I would go back to America.
What does this money do?
Ultimately, it pays for me to travel and live while on The World Race. It pays for me to be able to do ministry and not need to be paid by anyone. It pays for my transportation from country to country. It pays for my food, lodging, communication, and supplies needed for ministry. I was the finance coordinator for a bit (before I got sick) and saw exactly where all the money went. AIM does a wonderful job stewarding the money well. It is also up to us to steward the money as a team. We get monthly budgets and wisely spend it.
Where will I go next?
I have 6 remaining months. I am in China now, starting ministry. After China is Mongolia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, then Nepal.
How am I?
I am healthy and strong—only getting stronger and healthier. I just finished two months of Europe. I worked as a lumberjack with men who are currently going through rehab from alcohol or drugs. Many of them were in gangs or in prison right before they entered Village of Hope. My time there was the best. I left a part of my heart there. It was a place where men covered in prison tattoos celebrated Good Friday by decorating Easter eggs. Seeing the redemption of Christ was so beautiful. It was a place where not speaking the same language didn’t matter because we could share a smile or lend a helping hand. It was a place where at the end, leaving was heartbreaking. It was a place where I found people who now consider me family. I want to go back.
After Estonia, I went to Latvia. I worked with the youth of a Seventh Day Adventist Church and although the details of what we believe are different, we believe in the same Jesus. We taught English to adults who were excited that native speakers had come. We ran the youth group of the church by doing lessons and hanging out with them. We had youth 4 days a week and taught English the other 2 days. We spent the rest of the time doing street evangelism. Throughout the month, it didn’t seem like we were doing much because we weren’t building a school or saving girls from prostitution. It seemed like we were only living in Liepaja, Latvia for fun and not on a mission trip but at the end of the month, I realized how wrong I was. Ministry is life and life is ministry. The relationships that were built and invested in mattered. I left another piece of my heart with those students and adults who loved us so well. I want to go back.
Now I’m in China and more excited than ever. I can’t wait to share how this month goes.
What do I need?
- Prayer. I’ll be in faithful prayer that recognizes that God listens and responds. I truly trust that God will provide even if I can’t fundraise myself. Will you just pray that through people, God provides (whether it is by actually giving or by sharing my story—both play vital parts in this).
- Share. Spread the news. Spread my story. When I was in the hospital, my blogs reached over 3,000 views in 24 hours just because people were sharing my story. Could you share once a week or whatever you feel comfortable doing?
- Do. Would you consider supporting me financially? Would you consider fundraising in your own way for me? I would love if you would first pray to see if this is what you are called to do. Many of you have already given—thank you!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You are amazing supporters.
I can’t wait to see how God works in this month! Woooooo!
