Pre-Medan Diaries: Raising Funds pt 2

Sacrificial Giving

The previous week has been a significant test and testimony in my life. I've heard a lot of stories about God providing miraculously to people going on a mission, whether tendays or long term. During the past 3 months of approaching people virtually (thank you God for facebook!), I've experienced a lot of faith-building struggles and opportunities like getting in touch with people I haven't reached out to for a LONG time (yes, this was a struggle considering my not very extrovert personality), hearing NOs from people you expected to understand and have a heart to support my cause, and receiving unexpected YES from people you never even imagined would give generously out of their own storms.

But what I really wanna do in this post is honor God and the person (or family, more appropriately) whom he used to let me experience the last miracle during my MPD season.Well, He used many people for several miracles but this one's simply the best :)

It was already the last day of the deadline and I was still short with 10% of the total funds I needed to have by then. I've been wanting to see God provide miraculously so I didn't wanna ruin the opportunity by trying to figure out a Plan B... something like borrow money. That' so cheap and I feel the Holy Spirit just telling me to WAIT. Even if I try to do something about it, I couldn't as i didn't have the time. It was Monday and my new role at work is very time and attention-consuming. So I was forced to wait and not even think about how to solve it. In short, God wanted me to not worry.

But here's what went through my mind that day: What the? Not worry? I definitely am not pushing through Medan if my funds didn't get completed! It's even a hassle to gather up the funds and return them to my partners and explain, "I'm not going anymore." So, Lord, if you will allow, let me do something about this.

Of course, His answer was still WAIT, DONT WORRY. So I just did.
Then I came home and finally got to check my FB messages. To my surprise, one partner who has already gave me 10% has mentioned she will still give another 10%! All I could do was shout waaaaah, thank you Lord! What's even more a blessing is the way she is giving it. her family is experiencing some difficult storm at that very time, with her husband losing his job and with bills piling up. But instead of allotting money for their food and needs for the coming days, she and her husband decided they would give sacrificially and inconveniently. That's just a realization of how God can work on two parties at the same time! Somehow I wanted to feel guilty because her money could've been used for her family's provision but still, she gave it out. But then I realize, if it was God who told her to do so, who am I to keep her from passing her own test?

I look to God and am faithful to see how He will reward this family for their obedience!

Miracleek

Miracleek - a word I came up with this very minute to describe my week full of miracles :)

I entered this week with a very unwelcoming and ungrateful heart, for some relevant reasons, but I can't even end the same week without testifying about the miracles that God caused me to experience. (I'm excited to reveal about the common denominators of the 3 miracles that I experience this week but I'll hold those horses till the end of this post) :)

First Miracle - A sudden change of heart.

My online for the past couple of weeks hint how affected I am when I lost the Citrix business. Not 'lost' as in haven't 'won' but as in it's no longer mine, being replaced by the new buddy Microsoft Cloud. Since my birthday last July 24, my mind has been wandering with regrets (nanghihinayang, not nagsisisi) as if I'm losing an important person. You can't blame me for being affected much... I have poured out the last year of my life with and for it and now that we're parting, I felt like a part of me is being taken out.

I even came accross August 4, Monday having the 1st ever client call I had for Microsoft in Carmona Cavite. All I ever felt that day is regret also that I went there and wasted time, effort and money.

Tuesday morning, I asked Carmen to pray for me because I wasnt feeling any passion for my new job. There is a number of friends also who were praying for me at this stage of unacceptance.  :) The same day ended with my heart feeling a little peace about the transition.

Wednesday came along with my 1st miracle, I had my 1st business review with Microsoft and that meeting just popped my emo status out! I suddenly felt on fire for my new post! What used to be a burden became a challenge I would love to overcome! The funny thing is, I didn't even do anything but to attend that meeting, do what I have to do with the required presentation that I have to deliver! I'm so grateful for this change of heart because I never wanted to work for something I'm not passionate about. Now that I've accepted the challenge fully, I'm all out for it! In fact I have a lot of planning to do (again!) over this weekend, depriving me of no-work day, but hey! It's a glad choice to work this weekend!

The day I embraced Microsoft :)

Second Miracle - It will be completed!Thursday, 1 more day to go and the raising of funds for my mission trip to Medan Indonesia would have already been closed. I tried to connect to more people online to ask for support and complete the pledges which still lack 11% by that day. I couldn't get any more response and I have ran out of more contacts to approach. However, while I was attentively learning during my onboarding training with Microsoft, I received a message from a friend who expressed his intent to support me with a sum amounting to 10% of my target! That's big, I tell you! Right at that seat, in the midst of the presentations in front of me, my heart was rejoicing knowing that I'm experiencing the miracle I have been asking from God to let me experience! I didn't even approached this person to ask for support! :) I can only credit it to God's hands working! By the end of the day, I only needed 1% which was closed by another friend who expressed her intent to support me :) So happy to get 100% pledges! However, I don't really need pledges, but the money itself. But then comes my 3rd miracle.

Third Miracle - He cares about the details.
Same day, Thursday, I got the news from our Missions Coordinator that our deadline to complete the funds was extended to Monday! A very timely miracle as some of my pledgers have not yet remitted their support! Now I have more time to collect and remit! So grateful that I completely am not in control about that aspect, yet, He took care of it!

3 miracles in one week sounds too many for me, but when I look at the first 12 disciple's life, they encountered miracles every moment of everyday as they follow Jesus! There was no striving for them. They just followed and experienced the miracle. Same as the common denominator with my Miracleek! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING but to TRUST God.

To God be the glory! Here I go Medan! :)