I've been somewhat speechless for the last month. The graciousness of people has been incredible overwhelming! The task of raising such a large amount seemed near impossible, and yet I've already made it to a third of my goal.
How might you ask?
God has surrounded me by some of the most wonderful people.
If I told you that almost $600 has been donated by college students, would you believe me? I didn't believe it myself.
My number one goal in reaching out the my collegiate friends was for prayer, as they were the ones who taught me the power of prayer in the first place. They have given me prayer, and so much more. They have given me support, love, and hope. Two quick stories:
There is a girl that has been in a class of mine each semester for the past year and a half. We've been in small groups, but never talked extensively about much. I had hardly talked to her at all this semester. As we were sitting in class one day taking a test, she finished early and walked past me to leave. She stopped in front of my desk and handed me $20, saying "this is for your trip" and walked out. That simply action meant more than she will ever know. She didn't know much about me, or my dreams, all she had seen was a facebook event, that most probably ignored. The simplicity of her giving allowed me to carry on, and realize that this truly is bigger than myself, or anything I could imagine.
As I walked out of graduating from the University of Tennessee this past Friday, I was bombarded with hugs from 10 friends. The fact that they had even attended a graduation for 1,100, simply to see me walk across a stage was enough in itself.
While we were standing there waiting for my family, they handed me two presents: one from a friend contained two books- One by Blessed Mother Teresa, the other by Blessed John Paul II. Such a perfect gift!
Then they handed me a card from all of them. Inside was full of notes and signatures from many of my closest friends from college. In the middle of all the signatures was a circled number.
These people that had been my family the past three years, the one who were just a broke as I was, trying to make their way through college and loans, had come together and donated $430.
A picture of my roommate telling me about the money
Even typing that, it still sounds absurd. I'm so grateful for these beautiful people, that have allowed me to grow and trust in God as I have these last 3 years. Without their love and support I would not be where I am today. Words could not describe how much they mean to me, and how much I have learned from each and every one of them. I continue to remain speechless and God works through those I love, through those I hardly know, and even through strangers. It truly shows that we all are One. We all are His. And He has the ability to work through each of us as we allow Him.
So thank you, to my beautiful friends who have so perfectly allowed Him to work through them. I love you more than you could ever know. And thank you to the beautiful strangers I have yet to meet, yet I already know you so well, because you have allowed yourself to be His.
