Support Raising
A response.
I'm torn, between a wave of enthusiasm to undertake this long envisaged passion,
and the torrential fear of the unknown.
Excitement bubbles, yet this awareness of a new reality, taking on a duty of responsibility, seems to instill a spine tingling silence at the precipice.
An individual steps forward from the line, bold but hesitant.
Hopeful, yet completely surrendered of control.
Isolation seems present, will I have to stand alone?
My Humanity is not greater than God's Holiness.
My sin seems to engulf me.
Jesus knelt at his disciples' feet, and washed them.
He prayed for all the saints, isn't His Grace Enough!
Isolation seems present, will I have to stand alone?
My Humanity is not greater than God's Holiness.
My sin seems to engulf me.
Jesus knelt at his disciples' feet, and washed them.
He prayed for all the saints, isn't His Grace Enough!
I can feel despondent and daunted.
Yet God is still true.
My feelings come and go unwarranted.
Yet God is still true.
Time Consumes.
Our most precious resource we squander.
On His Holiness I must ponder.
His Love Prevails,
His Work Unveils.
His grace and kindness is not unkown,
HIS joy has my heart won.
Our most precious resource we squander.
On His Holiness I must ponder.
His Love Prevails,
His Work Unveils.
His grace and kindness is not unkown,
HIS joy has my heart won.
Thoughts on the process:
Some days it feels very lonely and like you have to generate the support completely by yourself.
I know people are backing me and praying for me. Should I not also be backing them so whole-heartedly?
But also this is my job and they have theirs and their lives. We're all busy.
I hate talking about support raising with people when it comes to percentages. It feels so impersonal, business like and avoiding the truth of what people's giving is for. Rather support raising is about enabling the absolutely amazing work I believe in. It feels as if people are just "targets" and the money is just an amount that people might feel burdened by. However it's really like a hug, or helping a friend move. It's an act of kindness and love that enables gospel movement and relational love.
Support Raising is an immensely humbling experience. It has bursts of sheer joy and excitement, then stretches of quiet waiting, almost boredom and re-running every single plan and possible sequence of events out in your head till you wonder why you weren't a military general or tactician! It runs between weeks of sheer exhausting visiting and work, and weeks of near isolated helplessness.
Often I didn't even bother telling people of the latest developments as I knew they would probably change by next week.
So far I feel like I've really grown in many ways, but also been exposed in so many others. However one thing has taken precedence. They are no longer "weaknesses" to be ashamed of. No one's perfect. It is simply things I can work on, and pray that God will give me grace to be stronger in those weaknesses and that he will give me humility when I am wrong or unloving.
Am I excited? Yes, this is what I've wanted for 10 years. The challenge of learning to adapt to a new completely different culture and working full time to help people in the most remote areas, through aviation. Am I nervous? Yes. When I think of "pilots" I don't really think of myself. I think of the sharp, intelligent looking Airline Pilots walking around large airports. I think of Top Gun or some of my friends who I studied with who just seem to be born to it. I love aeroplanes, I love what they can do, the thrill of flying and landing. But I don't think of myself as a pilot, rather someone in a chain or a part of a body competing in a race.
Support raising is the first half of building the chain, or the warm up before the race. Soon I will be full sprint in the race, but eventually I will cross the line and then the body needs rest and refreshment.
In the last month of my time in the UK my progress was stalling between 85-95%. It seemingly took an eternity to get that 10% and then appeared to not want to budge higher. However in my last week God showed clearly His soveriegnty and control. I passed 100% support one week before I was due to leave for Australia, and on Friday, 4 days before I was to leave, my working visa came through also.
I visibly remember at the start of the week thinking, that's it, I've done all I can. I can't do anymore. Which was completely true, but God could!
He has absolutely blown me away with the provision of being able to leave the UK with 100% financial support and a working visa. He also gave me great joy in knowing His faithfulness and kindness.
I hate talking about support raising with people when it comes to percentages. It feels so impersonal, business like and avoiding the truth of what people's giving is for. Rather support raising is about enabling the absolutely amazing work I believe in. It feels as if people are just "targets" and the money is just an amount that people might feel burdened by. However it's really like a hug, or helping a friend move. It's an act of kindness and love that enables gospel movement and relational love.
Support Raising is an immensely humbling experience. It has bursts of sheer joy and excitement, then stretches of quiet waiting, almost boredom and re-running every single plan and possible sequence of events out in your head till you wonder why you weren't a military general or tactician! It runs between weeks of sheer exhausting visiting and work, and weeks of near isolated helplessness.
Often I didn't even bother telling people of the latest developments as I knew they would probably change by next week.
So far I feel like I've really grown in many ways, but also been exposed in so many others. However one thing has taken precedence. They are no longer "weaknesses" to be ashamed of. No one's perfect. It is simply things I can work on, and pray that God will give me grace to be stronger in those weaknesses and that he will give me humility when I am wrong or unloving.
Am I excited? Yes, this is what I've wanted for 10 years. The challenge of learning to adapt to a new completely different culture and working full time to help people in the most remote areas, through aviation. Am I nervous? Yes. When I think of "pilots" I don't really think of myself. I think of the sharp, intelligent looking Airline Pilots walking around large airports. I think of Top Gun or some of my friends who I studied with who just seem to be born to it. I love aeroplanes, I love what they can do, the thrill of flying and landing. But I don't think of myself as a pilot, rather someone in a chain or a part of a body competing in a race.
Support raising is the first half of building the chain, or the warm up before the race. Soon I will be full sprint in the race, but eventually I will cross the line and then the body needs rest and refreshment.
In the last month of my time in the UK my progress was stalling between 85-95%. It seemingly took an eternity to get that 10% and then appeared to not want to budge higher. However in my last week God showed clearly His soveriegnty and control. I passed 100% support one week before I was due to leave for Australia, and on Friday, 4 days before I was to leave, my working visa came through also.
I visibly remember at the start of the week thinking, that's it, I've done all I can. I can't do anymore. Which was completely true, but God could!
He has absolutely blown me away with the provision of being able to leave the UK with 100% financial support and a working visa. He also gave me great joy in knowing His faithfulness and kindness.
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