Above and Beyond

I hate fundraising. Seriously. I feel like a beggar. I feel like I’m taking advantage of people in my church by asking them for money to go on a trip. I hate the waiting, watching to see if God will bring in the funds and make it possible for my trip to take place. I drag my feet, grumble, make excuses. I would rather do ANYTHING other than go through the process of fundraising.

And every time, he provides. Every time I do the work of fundraising, I am humbled by the way God works and provides, in spite of my grumbling. This year was perhaps the greatest example I have yet experienced of this.

By the beginning of March, all my support letters had been written and sent. I had sent 152 letters, some by email, some by snail mail, some hand delivered. My college group jumped in and helped me stuff and seal the letters. That was a fun night of enjoying fellowship together.

On Monday, March 8, 2021, I was 25% funded. I had a phone call that day with my PI coach, talking through things to get ready for the trip. She told me I should start following up with the people I had sent letters to, making a pitch by phone and asking them to support me. I got off the phone and immediately started grumbling.

I didn’t want to make 150 or so phone calls. I HATE phone calls. I HATE asking people for money. I’m busy with school, I don’t have time to make 150 phone calls. God provided for my last big trip, why shouldn’t I just trust him, pray, and see if he brings in the money? I grumbled and made excuses. Yet I wondered if this was what God really wanted me to do, to learn to trust him, to push me out of my comfort zone. And so, I sat down and made a plan, a schedule. Call 3-4 people a day, for the next six weeks, and I’d make it through my whole list. I made the plan, and then I went back to my homework.

Wednesday, March 10, 2021: I hit 34% funded when I woke up that morning and checked. I hadn’t yet made a single phone call. By Friday I was 60% funded. By Monday, March 15, I was 80% funded or so, and I had several pledges I was waiting on that would bring me to 100%. I woke up the next morning, Tuesday, March 16, 20201, fully funded. Less than a month after sending out support letters, I was fully funded…and then some!

It was incredibly humbling to watch God provide. It is such a blessing to go back to school today after a two-week spring break and know that the financial aspect of this trip is covered. I don’t have to think about it or worry about it. All my thank you cards are sent out (spring break project!). God knew I couldn’t handle one more thing on my plate right now with the school load I am carrying, and he provided. Perfectly, in his timing, above and beyond what I could have imagined.

I’ve had many people email me or tell me they want to support me, but missed it because the funding came in so fast! It brings tears to my eyes to realize how many people God has placed in my life that are willing and able to support me as I seek to go out into all the world and proclaim his kingdom. God is good…so good.

I know it’s not a perfect sign, but I have a significant amount of faith that God will provide a way for me to actually get to Asia this summer. Right now, there is a significant amount of uncertainty regarding travel restrictions. But I have faith that he has brought me this far, and if he wants to bring me all the way to Asia, he will do it. In his perfectly wonderful timing. The Lord will provide…above and beyond.