One step closer!

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!

Image of St. James' Episcopal Church in Dalhart, TX where I spoke on July 28.  I have my very first church memories from this church, and it has a very special place in my heart.