5 Months Later...

Woah...

So, I can't believe it has actually been five months since I have last been on my blog site.  Sometimes I even forget I created this thing.  Maybe I will update you on the rest of my trip to Jamaica, but for now I have some new news to share. New news, haha. Anyways..

The night I flew out to Jamaica, I decided to apply for summer mission with Cru.  Summer mission is something I had heard about several times at fall retreat, winter conference, and weekly Cru meetings.  After this past winter conference in January, God clearly put it on my heart to apply and go on mission specially to Ocean City, MD for ten weeks.

A month later, I received a text to set-up an "interview" to further discuss my application.  After my conversation with the women's director, she told me I had been accepted to attend the mission this summer in OCMD.  I almost couldn't believe it, I was chosen to go on mission and fulfill my passion to walk deeper with the Lord.  I was quick to share this news with friends and family.  Only one thing stopped me in my tracks though...$$$$$$.  Well, if I'm being honest, how in the world am I supposed to raise $3100 to go on this summer mission?  That seems absolutely impossible and unachievable.

I know God works in great ways, but $3100 is a lot of money. I'm a poor college student who even hates spending $50 at the grocery store let alone asking people to financially support me.  Why would I want to ask people to give me money? It took me forever to write my letter, print them, place them in envelopes, and purchase stamps.  It felt like a never-ending process, but I finally got them in the mail by the end of March. Now, it was time to pray.

I prayed God would provide people to financially support my mission and more importantly, through prayer.  Prayer was my strength to get through this process.  As the days passed, I prayed people would not be inclined to support me, but they would have the desire to support how God was going to work through my summer.  I explained in my letter how I was going to deepen my faith through bible studies, fellowship with other college Christians, and sharing the gospel with locals and vacationers.

As the semester ended and summer began, I was about 50% supported. It was amazing to see God provide within a few months, but then it really became difficult.  Some people who I thought would financially support my mission did not, and I began to question why God would put it on my heart to go on mission when I wasn't seeing the support coming in. It was a serious struggle of mine, and I hated to feel the way I did. I trusted God, although I was beginning to lose faith in Him to provide.

May 31st came, and it was time to move-in the house with 34 other students.  Totally nerve-racking. Exciting. Over whelming.  Scary.  So many emotions filled my soul.  Limited space and meeting people for the first time made me anxious.  What if they didn't like me? What if I didn't get along with my roommates? What if I didn't get a job? There were so many thoughts running through my head.  Plus I still needed $1000 of support. Yet I had peace knowing I was right where God wanted me to be.

As I got to meet people in the house, the topic of support quickly begun.  Some people were completely done with support and had more than the $3100. Others needed about the same amount as me if not more.  During the first week here, the financial staff guy met with each individual to discuss his or her support plan and prayed with them.  It was so great to hear his positivity and encouraged me to walk with the Holy Spirit as the final donations came in.

I began reaching out to more people than ever before.  Some reactions were better than others, but God was opening doors to engage in conversations of what I was doing here in OCMD.  I spent my free time support raising, and it was humbling and draining at the same time.  I was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Leading up until the last day of the deadline, I needed about $300 and knew I would have to pay for the remainder of it.  $300 is a lot of money, but I knew I would be able to write a check and was prepared to do so.

The morning of the due date on June 28th, the financial staff guy texted me to tell me one of my bible study leader supporter's wrote a check for the remainder of my fund. What? How? Why? All these questions ran through my mind.  My bible study leader had mentioned in her monthly update letter to her supporters that her bible study girls were struggling to finish their support, and this married couple only two years out of college wrote a check for over $1000 dollars to be divided and shared among us.  I was in awe and still in awe wondering why this couple who knew nothing about me was more than willing to finish my support raising without question.  If God has a plan, then He will provide until the very end.  This statement could not be more than true.

I praise God for that couple and everyone who supported me on my summer mission in Ocean City, MD.  I have gained a new community of Christian fellowship, new perspective on how to incorporate God in my daily life, and engage in conversation to share the gospel.

God is more than willing to use you in mighty ways, but only if you are willing to fail and humble yourself in the process by acknowledging your brokenness.


God Bless,
AlPal (mission nickname)