It’s Not Easy!
In order to come on this trip, we have to raise $17,017. This covers airfare, board, food, transportation to and from ministry and a couple other things. Seventeen thousand dollars is a lot of money. When signing up for the World Race, you are told a lot about fundraising and given some ideas on how to meet this goal. This was a very hard concept for me to accept. I have to do what? In order to get the money to go I have to ask people to help me? I have to accept money from others? For me this is such a hard thing to do. I hate asking people for anything, no matter what the need is. I was raised in a house where everyone works hard for what we have. My parents are such hard workers and everything we have is because of the hard work they put into it. I’m so thankful to have grown up in such a hard working family. It truly showed me the good that comes out of working hard. However, like all things, too much of a good thing can also be bad. Being a hard worker is a great quality if you don’t let others take advantage of that. When others see how hard of a worker you are, sometimes they see that as an opportunity to use you. Maybe with a job its someone asking you to cover them because they know you will but won’t be there to return the favor when you need someone to help you. It could be someone pushing something off on you because they know you want to help in anyway you can even when it’s something they could have done. Point being, most things can have a negative affect if you don’t keep them in reasonable boundaries. I’m not saying being a hard worker is a bad thing because I defiantly don’t think that and wouldn’t be where I am if it was. God has taught me a lot through it on this trip. The thought of not having a job and an income for a year was such a hard thing for me to accept. So many questions began to flood my mind. How am I going to hit my deadlines? What if I need to get things that the race doesn’t cover (trust me there are things you do have to pay out of pocket for)? How am I suppose to ask people to help me by handing over money? I was always so use to having a job and working hard to have an income to pay for things.
When I applied for the World Race, I wanted so badly to go but also a part of me wanted to be denied. Not because it was something I didn’t want to do but because I couldn’t imagine asking others to support me. I was scared to leave home and my family for that long. I was scared to have to rely on someone else providing this much money for me to be here. I felt so bad and ashamed to have to ask for support from others. After I applied, I prayed that if I wasn’t suppose to go on the World Race that my application would be denied. However, that obviously didn’t happen because I’m here getting close to the end of month two of my race. When I first got accepted, I wasn’t sure what to do or how to start fundraising. I began to go between three jobs doing everything I could to save as much money as possible. I also wasn’t thinking about the money I had to have for the equipment needed for the trip. I saved everything I made that I didn’t have to use for bills and put it towards my trip. Then, with the help of friends and family, I began setting up different fundraisers. God opened my eyes by bringing so many people into my life that wanted to help me. Friends I haven’t talked to in years were showing up to every fundraiser I had. Customers at my job who I didn’t know would ask me what my plans were in life and when I told them about the race they would sometimes donate. Friends of people I know started coming to support me, even though they had never met me before! Even people who thought I was crazy and sometimes people who are not Christian would donate to me. God is good and He provides. I don’t like to ask people for money but I have learned to let God handle it. After all, I’m not asking people to send me on a vacation. I’m asking people to step into partnership with me just as I have stepped into partnership with the Lord this year. I am here because He called me here. He called me to leave my home, family, friends and every comfort I have. For those who know me, you know that I like staying in my comfort zone. I like doing new things but usually back out before getting to the point of trying them. I use to have anxieties over doing new things, to the point I would talk myself out of them. The fact that I’m here proves that God is working in my life. It shows that this is right where I’m supposed to be.
I’m learning to accept help, even though it’s not easy for me. I am allowing God to take it all from my hands and handle it. I have faith that when I pray, God is right there listening to my every word. He knows our fear and our struggles but He will never leave us in those areas alone. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”. He is our provider, our healer and our protector. When you go to God and hand everything over to Him, He acknowledges it and does answer prayers. That doesn’t mean the answer will come right away. Even though sometimes He does answer prayers right away, there are also times where the answer comes at a later time. I have Faith that God will continue to provide financially while I’m gone as well as protect and keep my squad and me in good health. God is good and I will forever praise His name. When struggling, turn to Him because He will be there listening. Just remember to have faith that He will indeed answer your prayers in one way or another, whether thats right away or in the future. For me this trip has brought out so much trust and faith in my life. Let me tell you, even when things would normally be stressful, I have so much peace knowing it’s all already handled in Jesus’ name.
I just want to give a shout out to everyone who has helped partner with me through prayers and/or support. This journey is not easy but it has helped me grow in so many ways and it has been the greatest experience I have had and it’s only month two. God has so many things planned and I can’t wait to see the person He is shaping me into.
Financially I am still in need of help. My $13,000 deadline is due this Saturday, September 30th. I am currently about $700 dollars short of that deadline. After that I have a deadline to have the full amount, $17,017 in a few short months. I am currently about $4,696 away from being fully funded. If you feel called to partnering with me through donations you can donate above on my main page. I am blessed to be this far in fundraising and I know God is going to provide so that I can continue on this journey with Him. I also ask for your support and partnership in prayers. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”.
Thank you all for everything!
Love Always Paxtyn <3
