A New Fundraiser + Where I’m Going Next Year

In case you missed the recent exciting news — I’m 50% funded!! I’m just over halfway to my total fundraising commitment of $18,700!!

I don’t know about you, but I think that’s crazy! I’ve said it over and over, but this process has been such a cool testament of God’s faithfulness and goodness. He’s shown up in the smallest details again and again! 

For example, I was at work the other day and was thinking about my fundraising, and all of a sudden God dropped the thought in my head–“someone is going to give me money today.” I immediately started this internal dialogue that went something like: “wait, what? That’s crazy. That sounds kind of selfish? Haha @me but probably not. Life doesn’t work like that, people don’t work like that, forget about it” and continued on my merry way. 

Then right as I was getting ready to leave for the day, I helped a customer exactly as I’d help any other and then started to gather my stuff to leave. It wasn’t but a couple minutes later that she flagged me down and called me over to herself, she leaned in close and with her hand balled up in a fist extended toward me said, “you’re doing a great job, I appreciate you, and this is for you” and hands me a $20 bill! SAY WHAT!!! 

I was speechless! Because 1. I did nothing special to deserve that $20 and she had no reason to give it to me, and 2. God told me it was going to happen before it did. 

All that to say: DETAILS, PEOPLE — HE’S IN THE DETAILS!!! There’s nothing too small for Him to care about or too big for Him to handle! 

So when I see I still have 50% of my fundraising total left–I’m excited to watch it all unfold! To see what creative and unexpected ways it all comes together in the end. 

And with all of that said, I’m so excited to share with you my next fundraiser! One of those unexpected details that God totally has a handle on… I’m doing a raffle! 🙂 

If you win, the prize is YOUR choice! Your options are an inflatable paddle board, a stainless steel fire pit, or a $250 Visa gift card! Whatever you pick will ship directly to you, so no need to worry if we don’t live close to each other. 🙂 

Tickets are $10 each and you can buy one or one hundred (or any number in between, whatever your heart desires!) — and for every 5 tickets you buy, you’ll get a 6th for free! You can purchase tickets via Venmo (@emilyjriggs) or by making a direct donation at the top of my blog (which is tax-deductible, hint hint), I’ll do all the keeping-track of tickets and donations and the winner will be randomly selected and notified on December 10th! 

Annnd finally, I’m excited to share WHERE I’ll be going next year! In roughly this order, my squad is planning on going to: 

1. Guatemala

2. Honduras

3. Nicaragua

4. Costa Rica

5. Colombia 

6. Ecuador

7. Peru

8. Rwanda

9. Kenya 

10. Eswatini 

11. South Africa 

These are the plans we’re holding with open hands–things could change on a dime, borders could open or close, ministry hosts could become available elsewhere, natural or humanitarian crisis could redirect our attention, or our leaders could simply feel God calling us to stay or go at a slower or quicker pace than expected!

But as of today, that’s the plan. 🙂

It’s what we’re looking ahead at and also looking forward to. Of the countries on our route, I’ve personally only been to Guatemala before, so I’m so looking forward to getting to experience new cultures and people groups and see new parts of the world!

Guatemala was actually the first country I went to on an international mission trip, so what a special detail to get to start this coming year in the same country that originally set my heart ablaze for the nations!! God is so cool like that! 

 So in summary (if you’re a skim-reader, hello please read here haha)… 

– I’m 50% fundraised! What a celebration!! But it also means, I’m not done yet and I still need your help. 

– I’m doing a raffle! Tickets are $10 and the prize is yours to choose if you win. 🙂 

– I have my country information and I’m so excited for all that awaits me and my squad in each place we get to call home next year! 

That’s the update, friends–if you have any questions, please reach out! Thanks for being here and for following along, I appreciate you… and hey, if we were standing across from each other, maybe I’d lean in and hand you an unexpected $20 bill. 😉