Today begins full-time support raising. As I dive into the deep end of trusting God to raise up partners and provide, I must admit I am a bit overwhelmed. With the loss of our baby just 2 weeks ago, the last thing I want to do right now is talk to people about how excited I am for what God is doing in our life. It is hard for me to separate my excitement for Italy and my sorrow for the death of our baby. I want so badly to hit the pause button on life and be able to catch my breath on what has happened. But the reality is there is no pause button. Life presses on, and so I must follow suit.

My prayer for this next step in my journey comes from Psalm 127. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives up his beloved sleep.” God must build this house. I can be extremely diligent and work tirelessly at raising our team of partners, but if I do not seek God for his provision, I labor in vain. After all, I am not moving to Italy for myself. Why then should I raise my support for myself? I do it for God.