I received my acceptance call to the World Race at work the second week of 2018. I remember seeing the call from Georgia and immediately preparing myself for disappointment. I went outside to take the call and stood on a busy street in NYC. I just knew I would not be accepted – Too old, too much baggage, lack of potential, too different.
When the woman on the other side of the phone said, “we’d like to offer you a spot to October 2018 Route 2,” I was speechless. Then, I said, “I will make a final decision soon, but I’d like to pray about it some more and talk to more World Race alumni about their experience.” It was almost as if I was backtracking, like sabotaging myself from all the opportunity. I do this a lot. I can’t be the only one? When an opportunity is handed to us or a prayer is answered, we often hand it right back and give so many excuses or we complain how the timing’s all wrong, etc. Yet, we pray for good things and pray to be able to do for the kingdom of God. Then, when our prayers are answered or an opportunity arises, we shrink back in astonishment. This has been my struggle these past 6 months. I’m excited, yet a part of me can’t believe it’s really true. I’ve had to remind myself how God called me to this journey and that He will bring me through.
Last month, I logged in to my support–raising page, it said I had reached $5,015.00 in donations. I stared at it and kept refreshing the page. How did I get here? Back in January, I could not have imagined I would meet the 1st fundraising deadline early. But, thanks to God and all of you my supporters, we made it! Over the past 6 months, I have sent letters in the mail, texted, and called family and friends. I’ve also sent Facebook and Linkedin messages to former high school, college, and grad school classmates, former and current coworkers, bosses, friends, cousins, fellow church members, neighbors. I have also given out my World Race support card to random people I meet at events in New York City.
These last 6 months, along with slowly contacting my network, I have also done an Adopt a Box fundraiser (still in process), Adopt a Jar fundraiser, Pampered Chef Ladies Night fundraiser (so much fun!), and T-shirt sales (still in process). Coming up next, a garage sale, dinner/concert, coffee sale. Thank you to all who have donated in one way or another, whether through prayer, financially, time, encouragement. All support is appreciated and I am forever grateful. One of my hopes for after the World Race is to come back to New York more passionate and fired up to evangelize my local community. So, your support will not only have global reach, but local reach as well.
January through June has been a roller coaster of ups and downs of getting rejected by some close to me and on the other hand strangers encouraging me. Through it all, God has been faithful. He is teaching me to trust when I see Him at work and trust when I don’t. I’m learning that walking by faith means I am taking steps based on the last words and promises I received, while quietly waiting for the next steps to unfold.
In conclusion,
1) thank you to all of you my current supporters
2) I want to encourage myself and all of you to stay in God’s Word, so we will not fall prey to the enemy’s most popular tactic- discouragement. Discouragement leads to doubting Gods’ Word and His ability to work in and through us, which leads to disobeying His Word, which leads to missing out on living the abundant life that Jesus died to give us.
3) Please prayerfully share this blog with at least 3 people this month. The next deadline is September 21st – we need to have at least $10,000 raised in order to launch in October.
In courageous faith and for His glory alone,
Sharon
*I am in the process of collecting back the jars from the Adopt a Jar fundraiser. Stay tuned for next week’s blog post which will be the results! Thank you to all who participated!
