Fastpass: An Update on COTN, Support Raising, and this Season

I am not good at waiting.

I don’t know if most people are, but I do know the patience apple is definitely missing from my Fruit of the Spirit basket.

If you’ve ever seen me in line at Disney you know this is true. I would much rather pull out my Disney Fastpass to skip the line and ride Space Mountain so I can hurry up and see the backside of water on the Jungle Cruise. Life doesn't have a Fastpass though.

It’s been two months since I’ve started support raising to come on staff with Children of the Nations as the Uganda Country Liaison (if you want to learn more about that click here or contact me). While it’s been good and I’ve been blown away by the support and encouragement I’ve received, it’s been hard as well.

After two and a half months of raising support, I’ve officially hit 55% of my monthly need in order to come on staff, and that is so awesome and I can’t even tell you how thankful I am for the people who have prayed and given to make that a reality! It’s absolutely incredible. At the same time, it’s tough for me to not look at the amount still needed and feel overwhelmed. You see, back in June when I accepted the job the hope was to head out to Washington State in the fall for a few months to learn the job. Heading to Washington is dependent on funding and having enough pledged to start. Honestly, as the days go by and fall creeps closer, it's hard to not put pressure on myself or feel like a failure. Sometimes I think I'm crazy. I think, "Kristen, what are you doing raising support for a job when you just spent time and money getting a master's degree?" Then I have to remind myself that God is bigger than my finite mind, that sometimes we have to say no to logic and ourselves in order to say yes to what God is calling us to do, and that God is good. It's hard to not be anxious and wonder if it's ever going to happen or when it actually is going to happen. If it were up to me, I would snap my fingers, have the amount raised, and start my work with COTN. But it's not up to me. It really is all out of my control and forces me to trust God in a way I have never had to before (although sometimes I would rather trust the accountant that runs payroll at my salaried job). I can do my part--the rest is up to God and His timing.

This season is about waiting, about patience. And while I'd much rather whip out my Fastpass to get from one point in life to another in the shortest time possible, life doesn't work like that. Sometimes things take a bit longer, and that's ok.

It’s ok that this has looked a little differently than what I thought or we had planned. It’s ok that it’s taking a bit longer. It’s ok to take the scenic route sometimes (or the dirt road riddled with potholes). And I’ve had to trust that it’s ok. That God says I’m ok. That God’s timing is perfect.

I'm slowly learning that this season of support raising isn't about getting it done so I can start working, but that it's about God working on my heart. He's way more concerned about who we're becoming in the interim than getting us from one point to another in the shortest duration.

Here’s what I know: God is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” And that is enough for me. Even without a Fastpass.

If you are interested in helping, here’s three ways to do so:

1. Pray. Pray for my heart during this time. Pray for God’s provision. And pray for God to stir up people who would partner with me in this ministry.

2. Share. If you know people who would be interested in partnering with me, I’d love to chat with them.

3. Give. If you are wanting to give, the easiest way to do so is online at cotni.org/staff/kristen-marks. It’s so easy a caveman can do it.

#Africa #Uganda #SupportRaising