It is officially 40 days until I leave the US and 47 days until I begin class at the G42 Leadership Academy in Mijas, Spain. (What’s G42? Read here.) This date has crept up much quicker than I anticipated, but I am beyond excited and expectant for what this next step holds.
Something that I have learned about myself over the last year is that I have an incredibly hard time saying no. I hate disappointing people, and have a tendency to spread myself exceedingly thin, often to the point of exhaustion. Fundraising is one of those areas in particular.
When I was fundraising for my World Race in 2017 I sent out support letters, baked cookies, babysat and made jewelry, all to raise funds for my trip. Looking back, I put an exorbitant amount of pressure on myself to raise all $18,100 before I left the States. I recently stumbled across the numbers from that season. In 6 months, outside of the 71 individual donations I received, I babysat 92 hours, baked over 1,500 cookies and sold 267 pieces of jewelry. I was also working a full time job at the George W. Bush Presidential Center and trying to squeeze in every last minute with friends and family before I left. I remember working a full day and coming home at night to bake cookies or make jewelry until the wee hours of the morning, often pulling all-nighters. I had such a hard time saying no because I knew the goal I had to reach. Many of my friends will recall the eye twitch I developed that December because my eyes were so strained. (Yikes! Praise Jesus it’s gone.)
This isn’t to say that I don’t appreciate every last cookie I was able to bake or piece of jewelry I designed and sold, because the creative side of me was thriving and this allowed me to reach my final goal. I knew without a shadow of doubt that God had asked me to go on the World Race. So why didn’t I trust that he would provide the funds? Why did I feel so much pressure to take matters into my own hands? After all, He is Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides. He is a God of completion, and when He calls us to things, He doesn’t leave us hanging. If I am being honest, before I left on the Race, I was still operating out of my own strength when it came to most things. I’d always prided myself on my independence and ability to hustle. I didn’t learn to truly trust in God’s faithfulness until I saw it so often firsthand on the field, in both my life and those I met abroad. Time and time again last year I found myself helpless, with no choice but to depend on God, and He showed up each and every time. When I was called back to lead a team through West Africa in January 2019, I didn’t feel equipped AT ALL. Team Leading wasn’t something I ever would have chosen for myself, but God continued to tell me to go. Did He show up? Absolutely.
As I’ve entered this current season of fundraising again, I have unfortunately found myself quickly falling back into old patterns. I started working full time again by day, and baking/decorating cookies into the early morning. Thankfully, God is gracious and has a way of bringing us back to him. So, in these last 40 days before I leave for Spain, I am giving it all over to Him. I will trust that as the author and creator of my life, He will be faithful in what He has called me to. I won’t be taking any additional cookie orders for February so I can take that time to spend with family and friends before I leave. Does it still give me slight anxiety to put down my rolling pin? Of course. But our God is sovereign and He continues to show up even when my faith wavers, because that is exactly who is He is. He is a good, good Father.
With that said, I have a new fundraiser going live – Adopt a Box!
How does it work? Choose a $50 box and you donate $50. A $250 box = $250 donated. Or choose two boxes if you’re feelin’ crazy! If you would like to donate, the link below goes directly to my G42 donation page. However, since the donation system is through PayPal, it will take a 3% processing fee. To avoid the fee, money can be sent to me directly via check or Venmo. Interns are then allowed to Venmo directly to the G42 account, so I can turn around and send it directly there!
Thank you to everyone who is reading this. YOU have gotten me to this point through your prayers, support & generosity. I am eternally grateful for each one of you who has believed in me as I continue pursuing God’s plan for my life!
My Personal G42 Donation Page, here!
Venmo: @sara-owen-1
Address: 13511 Taylorcrest, Houston, TX. 77079
All my love, Sara
