“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties." - Oswald Chambers
I'm 23% funded for Africa. I have to be 50% funded by January 17th. I need to raise $1000 in just a few weeks...and then have to have the trip funded in full just a few weeks after that...and that scares me.
When I first shared my donation link, I had this thought that maybe, just maybe, I would be fully funded overnight. That would have been amazing. I would not be so nervous right now. I would feel as though I have the freedom to be excited about the trip.
However, that's not how God wanted this thing to happen. While that would have been amazing and I would have learned just how quickly God can provide...that's obviously not the lesson He will be teaching me with this experience.
Here's what I've discovered instead: people surprise you. People love me far more than I deserve. While I'm not quite where I need to be yet, with every donation that comes through, I tear up a little bit.
A few days ago, I got a facebook message from a girl that I went to college with. I was a senior when she was a freshman and I was her TA in her freshman biology lab. I graded her papers and occasionally answered a few questions...almost 5 years ago. In her message, she apologized to me because she couldn't give more, but she's in grad school and broke. She told me that I made the world a better place. I was at work and had to work really hard to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. She sacrificed so that she could support me. And I am grateful.
A few days before I got the facebook message, my little brother donated some of his own money to send me to Africa. His message read, "For Africa. But, you can't stay there." (You may have seen a picture of this particular donation on facebook or instagram.) He earned the money by cutting grass and doing odd jobs for our neighbors. He's been saving all his money to buy something rather pricey that he wants. He sacrificed so that he could support me. And I am grateful.
A few days ago my mom texted me to tell me that three of the kids in the neighborhood had come over with their mom and donated their own money to my trip. The money that the little boy contributed? His birthday money. They could have spent that money on anything, but they chose to sacrifice so that they could support me. And I am grateful.
Every donation...each and every cent...has meant so much to me. More kids from my past and present have donated. People who wish to remain anonymous have donated. People at church have started just handing me money and saying, "This is for your trip." It's wild. Each time I look on the website, I am overwhelmed with just how blessed I am to have such wonderful people in my life. I have no idea where the rest of the money will come from, right now I just hope it all comes. Raising $3000+ is not going to be easy, but I have faith that God will provide. Where the money has come from this far has been surprising and has practically made my heart burst. Perhaps that is what God is trying to do through this experience...show me just how much love I have in my life and make my heart grow...so that I can share even more love with the people of Uganda. So, for those that have donated and to those that will, thank you. What you're doing for me is noticed and appreciated. Thank you for jumping in and joining me on this journey.
If you'd like to sponsor my trip, you can give a tax-free donation here.
When I first shared my donation link, I had this thought that maybe, just maybe, I would be fully funded overnight. That would have been amazing. I would not be so nervous right now. I would feel as though I have the freedom to be excited about the trip.
However, that's not how God wanted this thing to happen. While that would have been amazing and I would have learned just how quickly God can provide...that's obviously not the lesson He will be teaching me with this experience.
Here's what I've discovered instead: people surprise you. People love me far more than I deserve. While I'm not quite where I need to be yet, with every donation that comes through, I tear up a little bit.
A few days ago, I got a facebook message from a girl that I went to college with. I was a senior when she was a freshman and I was her TA in her freshman biology lab. I graded her papers and occasionally answered a few questions...almost 5 years ago. In her message, she apologized to me because she couldn't give more, but she's in grad school and broke. She told me that I made the world a better place. I was at work and had to work really hard to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. She sacrificed so that she could support me. And I am grateful.
A few days before I got the facebook message, my little brother donated some of his own money to send me to Africa. His message read, "For Africa. But, you can't stay there." (You may have seen a picture of this particular donation on facebook or instagram.) He earned the money by cutting grass and doing odd jobs for our neighbors. He's been saving all his money to buy something rather pricey that he wants. He sacrificed so that he could support me. And I am grateful.
A few days ago my mom texted me to tell me that three of the kids in the neighborhood had come over with their mom and donated their own money to my trip. The money that the little boy contributed? His birthday money. They could have spent that money on anything, but they chose to sacrifice so that they could support me. And I am grateful.
Every donation...each and every cent...has meant so much to me. More kids from my past and present have donated. People who wish to remain anonymous have donated. People at church have started just handing me money and saying, "This is for your trip." It's wild. Each time I look on the website, I am overwhelmed with just how blessed I am to have such wonderful people in my life. I have no idea where the rest of the money will come from, right now I just hope it all comes. Raising $3000+ is not going to be easy, but I have faith that God will provide. Where the money has come from this far has been surprising and has practically made my heart burst. Perhaps that is what God is trying to do through this experience...show me just how much love I have in my life and make my heart grow...so that I can share even more love with the people of Uganda. So, for those that have donated and to those that will, thank you. What you're doing for me is noticed and appreciated. Thank you for jumping in and joining me on this journey.
If you'd like to sponsor my trip, you can give a tax-free donation here.
No comments:
Post a Comment