When God says “Go” He will open doors left, right, up, down and all the way around. I never knew going into this journey that God could make me have so many jaw-dropping and awe moments. Things that I expected that would happen did not. Things that I did not expect to happen, of course did. I never expected to be where I am at today in the financial process for fundraising. I never would have expected the way it is going still right now. That’s the beauty of it though. God knew I had specific people in mind, specific churches in mind, and specific things to do to help me along with fundraising money for this trip. He knew from the very beginning.
Even at the beginning of this financial journey, and yes I call it a journey because it has its highs and lows. Adventures in Missions (the organization for the World Race) prepares you with videos and gives you little tips on how to be successful when talking to people and how to get people in mind to send out letters to. I watched these videos and I am not a list person at all, but I began to write out names of people who I knew would be big hits for this. I then started writing out church names with the same mindset. After those names were put on the list, I did what got me into this process in the first place, I started to pray over them and then I just asked for His will to be done. I left that prayer thinking though, of what I wanted and not what God wanted. I think we all do that. We pray about something, asking for God’s will to be done, but really hoping that what we just prayed would go in the way that we want. So I sent out letters to those people and I talked at these places and I began to expect for things to happen the way I wanted them to. The way I hoped them to. God had other plans and thank the Lord He did.
You see those names on my list, some responded and some did not and that is okay! I love those people on that list no matter if they gave something or not. They could be giving in a way that is more than money, and that would be praying for my team and I as we prepare to step into this new season. Those places that I had on my list were the same way, but still that does not make me love that place any less. Like I said in the beginning, God knew from the very beginning who was going to donate and what was going to happen.
I never expected for a small town church congregation to give the way they had. I never expected for a man to stand up the week after I spoke and sang and say that God laid it on his heart to raise an amount. I never expected for my mom’s heartbreak to lead her to a neighborhood where she would meet one of her best friends. Then years later that friend of hers would support me the way she has. I never expected for people that I have never met to donate. I never expected for God to orchestrate another beautiful love story the way He has. Not only am I tangibly seeing this happen, but people who are in this with me are as well. I did not expect this at all. I can’t explain it. I love it though, because it shows that the answer is only God. This was and continues to be only God.
**Special Note**
I just would like to thank all of the people who have donated towards my trip. I am truly grateful and thankful for every single donation. I also would like to thank the people who have continually been praying for my team and I as we are a month and a half away from launching! Please continue to pray for us as we prepare! Love you guys always!
