Before going on the race I felt I needed to get out of Montana, just not sure where or what that entailed. I was feeling a tug toward the race as I was checking it out. Only one thing scared me and that was about $16,200 I had to raise. Add shots and everything else add another $1,500, (I already had gear which helped.) That might scare some of you and would be the reason you don’t apply. Some people said I should not go cause of how much debt I had and its impossible for me to raise that. If the Lord puts something on your heart he will provide in his perfect timing. If raising this amount of money scares you, I release that from you, it is not of the Lord. As I share my fundraising story may it praise and bring glory to God and push you to keep fundraising, if you hit a wall.
Once I applied and got accepted I had to give $150 to be fully committed to the race. At this point in time I had no job and money I made working at the Grand Canyon was leaving quickly. I was talking with friends on how life has been and told them about the race; a great man named Tony Fragozo felt compelled to give me $50 toward this. I had no idea where the $100 would come from. The Lord told me to pay it. I was collecting unemployment at the time and it was just enough to get by. I did not know how to pay my bills if I payed the $100. So I trusted that the Lord knew what he was doing. Got my next unemployment check and it was 3 times the amount was. Once this happened I figured this is what the Lord wanted me to do.
As you fundraise their are deadline dates to help keep you on track. The first deadline was at training camp which is about a month & half before you depart. Fundraising was falling apart. No one was answering their phones who I sent letters to, t-shirts I made were not selling, fundraiser events I did were not as successful as I wanted them to be. I was hitting wall after wall. Approaching training camp deadline I was short about $400. I was hoping I would have enough when I got there to pay it. When I arrived with money I got fro my “non successful fundraisers” I had the perfect amount! Alright one deadline down 3 more to go.
Between training camp & launch I had to raise $3,500 plus get shots which added another $800. I was trusting in the Lord that he would provide. I was seeking the Lord and asking him to provide everything. People slowly started to answer their phones but the response would be no. I kept being persistent, preparing for my next fundraiser and chasing the Lord with all my strength. Money started coming in with people who I have left messages for. The Lord was slowly providing & had a feeling he had something big planned. About two weeks before launch and a.few.days after my fundraiser downtown, I went to get my shots. I had a rough amount on how much it would cost. I had cash from fundraiser, t-shirt sales and from tip money. (A week after I got accepted to the race I got a job working at bdubs (buffalo wild wings)). I think the total amount was $765. As I pulled cash out to pay, I had exactly $765. The Lord has provided the shots now to reach the launch deadline!
During these couple weeks I was getting discouraged cause nothing was coming in. I started to question if this was what I was supposed to do. What a lie from the enemy that was! I checked my account one day and anonymous donations started coming in. About a week before launch an anonymous donor put me over that deadline, I was leaving for China! I only had one problem now, how am I getting to launch?
My parents during all this time I felt like they were not happy with my decision. My dad said he would not help me out financially once he knew that for sure I was leaving. I told him it all has come in and asked if he would be willing to buy my plane ticket to launch. Got a response that actually made me mad, response was no but a challenge as well. If truly this is the Lord he will he will provide. I sent an email out to my prayer team about praises and prayer requests. Within a day I got a phone call from Tony Fragozo saying that the Lord put it on his heart to pay for my ticket to launch! When you put everything you have got into the Lord freaking crazy and awesome things will happen! He wants our all and this was the very thing I was doing! Are you willing to give him your all?
While on the race we can still fundraise and it was not really come in. After three months of being on the race I was in danger of being sent home because of a lack of funds. What was I gonna do? I did not want to go home, yet.
