My first World Race Fundraiser was a great success! I was able to raise a little over $1,300 all in one night. Thank you Lord! $1,300 is a GREAT number and I’m very thankful for each and every dollar, but I still have a long ways to go before I can leave in October. I need to have at least $8,500 in order to leave in October and the rest of the balance ( approx. $7,000) can be raised from the field by pledges and donations from back home. It sounds harder than it actually is….I’d like to be FULLY funded before I leave so that I don’t have to worry about financials and focus on the ministry at hand. In the event that I don’t raise enough funds I will either NOT be able to go or be sent home early when my funds run out. No one in the history of the WR has ever been sent home, but there’s a first time for everything right? Let’s hope not.
I’d also like to thank EVERYONE that came out and supported me. All the donors for the silent auction and everyone in attendance were a great help in making this event a success! THANK YOU! God bless you for supporting such a great cause!
For many World Racers one of the biggest concerns is support raising. It takes A LOT of money to go out on a mission trip like this. One of the things I’ve been advised is to drop ALL expectations otherwise you’ll end up being discouraged. For instance, say I have a “rich uncle” in my family and he doesn’t give anything. Well that’s kind of a sucky feeling. But then a few days later a teacher from sixth grade who I haven’t talked to in years gives me a check for $1,000. With God you must expect the unexpected. Now these are all hypothetical situations, but you get the idea.
I personally DO NOT like asking for money, but for Jesus I will do anything. I had a WR teammate that said that and I’m sorry I forgot who it was, so if you’re reading this-thanks for putting it into perspective! Yes I know times are tough for some people and I can appreciate that. But every dollar helps no matter what the amount is.
There is one cool way that you as a supporter can contribute to my support fund. There is an option to do monthly installments instead of giving one lump sum. So if you wanted to pledge $100, you could pledge $10 for the next 10 months! Click on the SUPPORT ME tab on the left for more info on how to support me!
I named this blog Don’t Stop Believing because 1. It’s my FAVORITE song of ALL time and 2. It’s how I feel about God every day! Preparing for this Race can get very discouraging at times and it’s probably more discouraging to think about support raising. I have faith in our God and I WON’T stop believing that He will provide for me and the rest of my teammates. He has called us for a reason and His will…. will be done. I think I had mentioned in a previous blog that sometimes our time frames don’t match up with God’s. Before I learned this I would’ve freaked out to think that Ok, I have four months before I leave and I have $7,200 left to go before I eligible to leave. WHAT?! Major FREAK OUT! Now that I’ve learned that He ultimately knows when the best timing is I have a sense of PEACE. It’s not like I’m sitting back and not caring that funds aren’t coming in, it’s just that I have FAITH in HIM that He will provide when the time is right. Maybe He will send a major donor my way? Or maybe have multiple pledges come in at once? I, myself, don’t know. Only HE knows! The love He has for His children can come in any way, shape, or form. We just need to sit back and let HIM do His thing in our lives. The best thing we can do when we need help is to have Faith in HIM! Don’t Stop Believing that He will help us when we call for Him.
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ.
With that scripture being said I will continue to pray for support to come in so that I can be funded for God’s amazing journey called The World Race. This adventure is going to change my life and I am going to be rocked by God and his wonderful doings. My heart will break for His children and it’s up to me to help mend their hearts through God’s LOVE and PEACE.
Thank you so much for the support you have already given.
“Don’t Stop Believing. Hold on to that feeling.” -Journey
