Last fall, I had the opportunity to volunteer in Czech Republic with Global Autism Project, an organization that sends professionals in the field of behavior analysis to different countries to train autism clinics. I was beyond excited to be accepted, except for one tiny detail: I had to raise $5,000 in 2 months to be able to go.
I remember lying in bed the night that I got accepted and having a full on panic attack. I thought there was no way that I could do that and I was going to let everyone down. The problem with that last sentence? I thought I had to raise the money myself. Long story short, my friends, family, and people in my community donated $6500 in 2 months, so I was able to still pay my bills after taking two weeks off of work unpaid. I distinctly remember thinking “this is the last time I’ll ever fundraise”, and this is how I know that God has a good sense of humor.
Matthew 6:26 became so real to me after this experience. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap, nor gather in to barns; yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than them?” So, when I figured out that I was doing World Race, I knew that God sent me to Czech Republic to prove to me that if He could provide $5,000 in 2 months, $18,000 would be nothing.
This verse actually prompted me to tell God that I wasn’t going to work hard for the funds and that I would kick back and let Him do His thing. His response though was that I would be giving $500 of my own money each month, as well as all of the profits I received from my dog sitting side business. My initial thought was “Excuse me, how exactly am I going to do this? This is a bit ridiculous”, but then a few days later I moved in to a friend’s extra bedroom and was barely paying any rent.
The truth is, I haven’t worked hard at all for any of my fundraising money, because God provided it all for me. Sure, I gave my own hard earned money, but He provided the things I would need that came from me giving up what He asked of me. And in all honesty, cuddling dogs really isn’t that hard of a way to make money.
Today, I am completely funded and even have plenty of extra donated money to put in savings for emergencies on the trip and to get back on my feet when I return back to the states. I am beyond grateful to my friends, family, and complete strangers who believed in this mission and have given their hard earned money. I pray that God blesses them all ten-fold for their generosity and for furthering His kingdom. Now excuse me while I go and ugly cry about God’s faithfulness.
