Okay, I know. Money can’t really buy me love, but let me tell you what fundraising has taught me about this four letter word.
It’s funny that I’m writing this post on a flight to Atlanta, GA where today begins Launch (a term that refers to additional training a few days prior to departing for our first country). I love flying. I love the view of the clouds from the ground and they are even more majestic miles above them. There is something mysterious about the clouds. It’s as if they carry all of the world’s secrets with them. I mean, they have traveled everywhere in some form or another.
View from my flight to Atlanta
As I am 3 days away from embarking on my own travels around the world, I am so full of gratitude and love. More full of these things than I’ve ever been. Now that I have met my third financial deadline, I am guranteed 6 months on the field!
Undoubtedly, fundraising has been one of the most intimidating parts of my World Race journey. From the beginning, the thought of raising $16,000 threatened me to give up so many times. In the end, I am glad I stuck it out because surprisingly, fundraising has taught me a lot about the most important thing we can give and receive: love.
- At first, the thought of fundraising forced me to take a good look at my sense of self-worth. Honestly, I didn’t think I was worth $16,000. I mean, who was I to think I was capable to do this? Who was I to think I deserved such an opportunity? Why would people want to invest in me? Why would they send me? Questions such as these burdened me during my first few months of fundraising. I mean, money is one thing people will do anything to hold on to. Well, my fears were proven unwarranted because so far I have met every deadline early and people have given in so many ways and often sacrificially. Through your giving, you have taught me that love affirms and supports even when the recipient doesn’t understand why. Love challenges people’s negative perceptions of themselves and does so not necessarily through words, but through actions. Your giving has shown me that I am worthy and that I do have something to offer the world.
- One of the biggest fears I continue to battle is the fear of loneliness. To be honest, I have some serious abandonment issues and I am secretly waiting for everyone in my life to leave me at some point. Referring back to point #1, I have to fight to believe that I have anything to offer others and am indeed worthy of their time and relationship. God has undoubtedly used fundraising to show me that I am not only deeply loved, but loved by a lot of people. In fundraising I have been most encouraged by not how much but who has supported me through financial giving, encouragement, and prayer. Up to this point, none of my funds have come from relatives. That means that $11,000 has been donated through the many friends, peers, students, mentors, supervisors, teachers, and strangers that God has placed in my life throughout my 24 years of life. WOW! Your financial giving has confirmed that I am far from lonely and nowhere near abandoned. I have learned that true love is present and available at all times, for all aspects of other’s lives, and when we show up at our best and worst.
- The last lesson in love I want to share is that your giving has shown me that humility & vulnerability is required in both giving and receiving of love. Another major struggle I’ve encountered in fundraising is not only humbling myself enough to ask others for support, but in acknowledging that I cannot do this without the continuous support of others. Financially speaking, I started working at 14 because I learned early that everyone has their own issues and financial needs. So, I made it a point to never be a burden to anyone else, even my parents. This commitment to not burden others also impacted my ability to seek emotional, mental, and spiritual support. Fundraising has brought all of these issues to the forefront. It has been a journey, but I am so grateful for those who have graciously given in so many ways. I thank you for listening and holding my tears without blame or judgment. Thank you for pushing me to receive and accept true love: that in which exists fully, boldly, and sacrificially.
I could go on and on about how fundraising and this preparation process in general has challenged me to grow and trust, but I just want to end with a major thank you! I continue to search my heart (and the dictionary/thesaurus) for the right words to express my gratitude, but nothing seems to suffice.
Thank you for the $11,000 you have given towards my fundraising goal. Thank you for the quality gear you have donated and lessons on surviving outdoor adventures. Thank you for organizing and volunteering events. Thank you for giving me the platform to share what I am doing this year with your friends and family. Thank you for letting me stay in your homes and for feeding me without any ask of money in return. Thank you for the countless hours of listening and holding me as I cried out in confusion, doubt, and fear. Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words. Thank you for affirming and supporting me in something so important & invaluable to me–especially those of you who don’t fully understand or even agree with my mission. Thank you for showing me that indeed I am not alone.
And probably most exciting, thank you for challenging me to receive and trust love with humility and vulnerability.
Because of you, I am overflowing with joy, gratitude, peace, and love. Thank you for giving me so many precious gifts. I cannot wait to share them with the others!
Some highlights from two FUNdraising events!
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Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
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