But, for whatever reason, I never seem to worry about getting funding for my mission trips. When I was preparing to go on my first international mission trip in 2008 to El Salvador, one of the first things they told us at the interest meeting was not to worry about whether we could afford the trip, but about whether God had called us to the trip. God would not call us to something then not provide the means for us to follow through. So I prayed about it, and I really felt God was calling me to that trip, so I didn't worry about the money. And that made perfect sense to me--why would God ever call me to something, then leave me hanging? That's not the God I'd come to know and follow.
Now don't get me wrong. I don't mean I just sat back and expected the money to miraculously appear in the El Salvador team's account (although it could have). I had to do my part, then I got to watch God do his part. I wrote letters to friends and family asking for support. I washed cars in the church parking lot with the rest of the team. I prayed. I fasted. And, sure enough, the money came in.
The story is similar for my two previous trips to Kenya: prayed, decided I was being called to go on the trip, did what I needed to do, and the money came in.
This year's trip to Kenya is shaping up in a similar fashion, but God is showing up in bigger, more beautiful ways. By human logic, I should have been worrying about the money coming in this year--I'm staying for twice as long as I've stayed previously, so the trip is much more costly. People around me seem to expect me to worry about the money. I'd barely made enough through our fundraising and through sponsors the previous two trips to make it, so who knew where this extra $1000 that I'd never had to raise before would come from? That might not be a lot of money for some people in my area of the country, but when you live paycheck to paycheck like I do, that's not something you can just pull out of a bank account if someone doesn't sponsor you.
But my God is a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and who can take five loaves of bread and two fish to feed thousands with twelve baskets of leftovers. And God knows who is able to help send me to Kenya when I can't afford to go on my own. I lack faith in many areas, but I know God won't call me where he can't afford to send me. I can't say I'm surprised as the money comes in for this trip, but I am always in awe of God's power. People who have never sponsored me before are seeking me out to see how they can help. People I've only met once before, and people I haven't spoken to in about 15 years are joining me in this journey. Friends who are as strapped financially as I am are sending in what they can, and the little bits are adding up. We are carrying each other's burdens in a beautiful way.
So I want to take a moment and rejoice with those who have already joined me in this journey--you will be touching lives without even leaving your home, and I can't wait to tell you about them. And I want to pray that, if you haven't decided to join me financially, that you might consider it. My previous post lets you know how you can give. And please continue to pray for me, the rest of my team, and the people we'll be working with this summer as we prepare for all of the work we'll be doing in Kenya and Uganda.
I can't explain to you why I have such peace when I still have so much support to raise. But I can tell you that God told me I'd have this peace that's beyond understanding, if only I would pray and trust. I hope that someday I will have this much faith in other areas of my life, too!
