How the Journey Began, Part 2

HOW THE JOURNEY BEGAN, PART 2:

So I went back to the materials I had printed out regarding mission trips - read through it thoroughly - and wondered what my next step would be! You see, I am that person who, once I get an idea, I tend to run, run fast, and run hard!

Within a very short time thereafter, around September-ish, it was announced at church that there would be a mission trip information meeting one evening the following week! I attended, and three opportunities were presented: Jamaica in January, Belize in May, or Venezuela in the summer. I went home, I began praying, I began thinking things through (I process things very slowly and thoroughly at times), I began to do research, I began to weigh my options. Jamaica was the cheapest trip, but the soonest. Belize wasn't much more expensive, and just a little more time to prepare and come up with the money, and Venezuela was more money than I could comprehend at that time, and not to mention, a 2-week trip....how would I get two weeks off at work!?

After much thought, much discerning, and much prayer, I decided that Jamaica felt like the best option for me! $1,100.00 was a lot of money, but sounded more realistic to me! AND, more importantly, I felt at peace with that decision. NOW, to get a passport and to figure out the financial part of it! But, what if I spend the money on a passport, and then I cannot save up enough money for the trip? {this was one of the thoughts running through my mind}.

Approximately a week later, my boss asked me to pet-sit and house-sit for him while he was out of town.....I was paid just enough to ... you guessed it ... pay for my passport! Yep, I need to go for it! Now, how do I save money when I have no savings, and I pretty much live paycheck to paycheck? {another thought continually running through my mind}. Well, the materials I had printed out and read gave information about fundraising and soliciting support, one of the ideas of which included sending letters asking for donations. Yikes! You mean I have to ask people for money? Not real crazy about that idea, at all! But, I couldn't shake the idea! I needed to step out of my comfort zone, and just do this! Still not knowing if I would for sure follow through with this idea, I decided just to go ahead and draft a letter, which I did. Still hesitant, I then decided to make a list of potential donors. Still hesitant, I started compiling the addresses of the potential donors. Each step of the way, I kind of drug my feet, not real sure that I wanted to do this, but always feeling the tug to proceed. STILL hesitant, I prepared envelopes to mail the letters to the potential donors. Again, sat on the idea for a few more days. STILL hesitant, I stuffed the envelopes. STILL hesitant, I bought stamps. I know, this sounds tedious, but I'm telling you, I really drug my feet on this! lol. Okay, letter drafted, letter finalized, names compiled, addresses compiled, envelopes made, stamps bought.....all ready to go! Really? Could it be this hard to throw some envelopes into the mailbox? Well, it was! What if I mailed the letters out, and only received a small portion, not enough to actually go on the trip? Then what? Do I return the money? What if I get NO response? What if...what if...what if? {those were, again, some of my thoughts}. BUT, I DID IT, FINALLY!

In this letter, I followed the guidelines suggested in the materials I had read, including specifying why I was asking for donations, specifying my goal, and giving a deadline. Okay, 30 days to raise $1,100.00! READY, SET, GO! October 1 - 31! Nervous, scared, anxious, excited!

Two days later, I check the mail....a check for $100.00!!!!! WHAT? Who does that? Who sends someone a check for $100.00, especially when they don't know me that well? And then the next day, and the next day, and the next day...........$1,100.00 raised in less than 30 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, there was my sign....this was it...I was supposed to go! JAMAICA, HERE I COME!!!!