I am tired of fundraising.
I am tired of constantly asking my nearest, dearest and closest friends, and family to help me out. I am tired of seeing that same one person give and give, and me not having the words to express how grateful I am to that person. I feel as though I am pestering, and in some ways pushing those closest to me away.
Fundraising is hard, you do not want people to feel obligated to give, but you want to believe you have generous friends, and a giving community. It is hard sometimes not to judge some people based on their generosity. Furthermore $17, 561 USD or $22 739.32 CAD in today’s exchange (which is better than when I started). Is a seemingly impossible goal. Especially considering I do not have the ability to hand out tax receipts with that.
Sometimes you feel as though you are pressuring your supporters for more, and for me this is hard. Because I was always taught growing up to be grateful for what you have been given. So the idea of needing more, makes me feel like I have an ungrateful heart, and a greedy desire.
But now I am in the final lap. The end is near, I am only $2,637 USD away from that trophy of not having to ask for more.
Then things break on the field. Unexpected expenses happen like having to re-register my car from this end of the world, my sleeping pad gets a hole in it, my cell phone memory card breaks, and I need new footwear, socks, and personal hygiene products.
You see I am always going to have needs. Personal needs, emotional needs, physical needs, spiritual needs, and Financial needs. Living this life style is not about asking for more, or being greedy, or pressuring friends for money. Rather it is about the kingdom. It is about putting myself in a place where I am vulnerable, and have to have my needs met by the community of believers and such around me. It is about allowing people to have insight into my life, by submitting my incredibly simple needs to them. It is about celebrating the things God has done during this time, it is about testifying to my Fathers unending love, provision, mercy, grace and risking it not turning out perfectly.
I am learning it is not greedy to ask for a need to be met. Rather it is about humbling myself, it is taking the risk to need God, by leaning on his people.
It is knowing God has my back, because my family has my back. They love God, and God loves me. So even though I am exhausted, frustrated, tired, and disillusioned about fundraising on this race. I am on the final lap, I can’t quit here. Being fully funded means I get to continue to grow, continue to see God’s incredible Love story break through international barriers. It means I get to be the dispenser of Hope to the hopeless. The finish line in sight, the trophy within grasp. Here I am in the final lap, and I am not ready to quit, are you?
After I am fully funded I will continue to have needs, I will continue on into the next race, competition or whatever analogy you would like to use. My needs will continue, both financial, spiritual and personal. But I can tell you this, I will greater know his power to overcome, provide, love, and reconcile then because of this testimony. This final lap will strengthen me to persevere.
I need your help. I need your “claps”, your shouts, your support, words of encouragement. These are things that give me strength to run the race with excellence.
I’m asking you to join me in prayer for support of my ministry. Would you ask God if this is an opportunity He wants you to partner with? I sincerely desire to have a group of believers and supporters that will be A PART of this ministry with me. I know the power that resides within the body of Christ, and I am reaching out to you, trusting that the Lord will provide for me.
What I need are 26 donors of $100, and one donor of $37 USD
or 52 people willing to give $50 and 1 donor of $37 USD
or 105 donations of $25 and on donor of $12 USD
would you be willing to ask God if this is something he would like to see you partner with?
you can donate by clicking the “donate” button at the top of this page
You can also donate by sending e- transfers to [email protected]
I also have personal needs of other sorts for repairs, maintenance of equipment, and a real need for a new memory card so I can take pictures on my phone again. Would you consider taking part in one of these needs?
It is the final lap my friends, I am not ready to lay down and quit,I want to persevere to the end, and see that bar filled! It is nothing short of a miracle that i have made it this far, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for it. For all the help, support, and encouragement I have been given. Thank you for doing this! Now let us finish this race with excellence, and God’s glory be known because of it. Who else can boast of a God so great as the one who has done this!?
sincerely,
Thomas Ruhland
