With graduation officially behind me I have now entered what I am calling my “nomad” stage. Until I leave for Peru I will be living out of a suitcase and hopping around from family member to family member. These two months are the time I thought I would really be working to fundraise and speaking with churches in order to reach my budget. Well, I should learn not to try and plan things out the way I expect them to happen because sometimes God likes to take those expectations and do something completely different….
Last week I received my official email that my entire budget is already raised! I have known I was very close, if not there, but all of the funds weren’t officially in my account. Now they are! In just a matter of weeks I have raised what I thought would take months. To say the very least, I am completely overwhelmed. So first of all I want to say thank you. Thank you for the complete and utterly amazing outpouring of love, support and donations.
So then, seeing as I still have three churches scheduled to talk to the question hit me, “Um, what do I do now? What happens if I raise more?” I sent out support letters not too long ago, and I still have people telling they want to join with me in the journey and make a donation. This is a question I never dreamed I would be asking myself. I had faith that God would provide, still though such a large budget was pretty daunting. But, man did He provide! I took it as a huge confirmation that I am doing what He wants. But now what do I do?
Well, I have been visiting with SAMS and I am able do any number of things with any extra money in my budget. For example, I could extend my stay there if I chose to (my parents probably won’t be too keen on that option), I could use it to make a return trip to Peru again next year, or I would be able to use it in case of an emergency. But when I heard my final option, I knew what I wanted to do…
Now for the exciting part, my final option – Anything I raise at this point I will be able to put toward a special project for the kids there in Arequipa! What that project will be I do not know yet, but I am so excited that I will have the opportunity to use the generous donations and support I have received in a way that will directly benefit these children!!
I have my flight purchased and I leave October 16. Everything is starting to feel so real. I just want to thank everyone once again for the support and I ask for your prayers as I prepare for this journey. And, if you still feel led to join me and make a donation, everything from now on will go toward some type of special project for the kids!
