When the God first laid the World Race on my heart last March, this dream felt crazy and wildly out of reach. I had a long list of reasons in my head of why taking this leap of faith would never pan out. The greatest of those reasons was money.
Prior to telling anyone about what I felt the Lord was calling me to do, I spent days reading over Racer blogs, researching the AIM site, and googling videos about the Race. The more I learned about the journey I become enthralled. I felt a deep restless, uncomfortable pang in my heart that this is where I needed to be. I needed to be out in the nations sharing Christ’s Kingdom, and seeking his love in new ways. After hours of researching and reading stories, I looked up the price tag and my heart sank. I knew that choosing the life of a missionary wouldn’t pay, but I didn’t realize it would cost so much. I started racking my brain with ways that I could make this work…a year of travel and serving without pay…as a recent college graduate… with a good chunk of student loans. This was not logical and would never work. I’m a bit ashamed to admit that even though I thought the Lord had led me to this place, I didn’t trust that he would provide the finances for it. I knew even with working two jobs I would not be able to provide all the funding on my own. I also knew that I was NOT going to ask for help.
I’ve known a lot of people who have gone on mission trips and I had wanted to serve in that way as well, but was always held back by the idea of fundraising. I really hate asking for help. The notion of asking people to support me financially made me far more uncomfortable than the idea of living out of a backpack in 11 foreign countries for almost an entire year. I wrestled with God a bit and felt like a little kid saying, “pleeease don’t make me do this!” I even considered not applying for the Race because of how much I didn’t want to fundraise. Thankfully, the restless pang in my heart outweighed my pride. I knew that this was the first of many ways that God was going to kick me out of my cozy comfort zone in this next season. I was going to have trust God and humbly ask for support.
I timidly started sharing my plans with friends and family. I say “timidly” because after I accepted that I needed to ask for help a new set of fears started to stir inside me.
What if I tell people what I’m doing and they’re not supportive?
What if I put myself out there and the funds don’t come in?
Within days of feeling this way, before I had even sent out my support letters, I received an anonymous donation in my support account. With that one donation, a small fraction of the totally amount, I felt God say:
I know this seems daunting to you but this is nothing to me. Let go of your holds on this situation and I will provide. I led you to this path and I will light the way as you walk down it. Step out in your faith.
In the months leading up to the Race I have been so humbled, and many times brought to tears, by the incredible generosity and encouragement that has been shown to me. By choosing to support my Race through prayer or finances you have allowed the Lord to use you as a tool to help further His Kingdom. Thank you so much for serving the nations with me.
When I launched for the Race in January I felt the Lord telling me to stop checking my support account until March as a way of further trusting Him. Well, in that time almost $2,000 came in which fulfilled my April 1st financial deadline. I have been continually blown away by the way the Lord has provided and I have complete faith that He will carry me into being fully funded.
During this month, I invite you to partner with me on the rest of this journey. One way you can be apart of this adventure is by supporting me through prayer. Please pray for my team, our safe travel to each country, and that the Lord will continue to reveal himself in the ministries we are working with. You can also prayerfully consider supporting me financially. I am currently $1, 987 away being fully funded (so close, yahoo!) and need to meet this deadline by July 1st. Tax-deductible donations can be made by clicking the “Support Me!” link at the top of this blog.
Thank you! Your prayers and financially support are a vital to continuing on this journey. I am so thankful for the ways people have reached out and come alongside me throughout this season.
