Glory to God

Now that I know I'm going to PNG for outreach, I know a bit about how much the outreach will cost. This Thursday, tomorrow, the first $2500 is due. Through God's grace and love, people have been moved to help support me, especially my parents, and therefore the $2500 will be paid on time. However, that still leaves an uncertain amount of roughly $3000 that I need to trust God with. I've already done the standard support letters, GoFundMe page, and asked my church; I've been wondering what else to do to try to raise the money. I would feel bad if I had to send out more support letters to the same people as before, not to mention that it would be awkward and rather socially unacceptable. I'm still in that circumstance a bit, but just now the situation has shifted.

This week we were assigned a book to read, a book about trusting God financially. I imagine it was intentional on the part of the leaders, to have us read about trusting God with our money just as we need to come up with thousands of dollars for outreach. Even so, it really is a great time for me to be reading the book. Before 30 minutes ago, I hadn't yet started to read it (we have until November 10th to finish the book and write our report). I planned to start it during our weekly Wednesday study hall, which is just now coming to a close. So I sat on my bed and opened the book, and read the intro and had just finished the very first page when another student, one who I've only talked to a couple times, walked into my dorm room hesitantly and asked to talk to me. Obviously I closed the book and joined her to sit on the floor.
She told me that a while ago God had given her the impression to send out more support letters to her friends.  At first she didn't know it was God who had given her the suggestion, but then a friend (who had given her nothing and was only a year older than herself) gave an incredible amount of money. She knew then that it was God. However, she had all her funds set and ready to be paid, so she asked God what to do with the money. God didn't send a clear answer, so she asked around and essentially scouted for people to give to. She saw my post on Facebook, and knew that I hadn't gotten all I need. So she told me that some of the money from her friend was going to me, about $750.
I wasn't sure how to respond, so I stammered my thanks and we talked a bit and she left the room. I didn't know what to do at this point. Tell everyone? Scream it to the heavens? Keep it to myself? Buy a celebratory muffin and continue reading? I did the last one, because I was a bit in shock and also I think I just wanted a muffin, and I had only read a single page. So I went to buy my snack, and on the way down I saw her talking- having the same discussion- with another DTS student. I bought my snack and went to my room, keeping silent about what she had told me, and I started to read. But then I thought, why in the world am I keeping quiet? God deserves the glory, and God deserves the glory now, and I shouldn't wait to tell the world that the glory is to God. So glory to God, everyone!

And now I have 2 minutes to get to class, and I've still only read 3 pages. :D