I LOVE giving people baby gifts after they share the news that they are expecting a new member of the family. It is so exciting and fun to show them love in this way and to talk about what life will look like in the next few months.
I share that because my first support meeting was with Sawyer and Liv, on their 1st year wedding anniversary, a couple months after Sawyer had told me that Liv was pregnant.
I met Sawyer in 2021 when we were both working with campus housing at The University of Alabama, we became friends, and I happily agreed to watch his dog, Fen (he is the best) when he needed me to at school. We have stayed in touch since we both graduated - already an answered prayer that our friendship has continued and seen so many milestones. These milestones now include them preparing to have their first kid and me preparing to move to Albania. In 2021, would either of us have predicted that we would be meeting up in Minnesota four years later to talk about those things? Probably not, which is part of what makes life fun, I guess :)
After we got our coffee, I gifted them baby clothes, we talked a little, and then I gave them my presentation. Without hesitation, they accepted my financial ask and were quick to think of others to connect me with and different ways they could support me. I was so grateful and, honestly, relieved. I had made my first “ask.” Now we could go back to their home, relax, and play with Fen, whom I was just as excited to see as my human friends.
While at their home, we played catch with Fen, Sawyer made us all lunch, and I apologized a couple times for crashing their wedding anniversary - which they assured me was something I did not need to apologize for.
During our time together, Sawyer asked me to send him the link to give and I assumed he would sign up to give the amount I had originally asked for earlier and was so excited to receive. A few minutes later, he shared that they would sign up to give more than double that amount monthly and then also give an incredibly generous one time gift as well. I might have (definitely) shed a tear or two.
Whenever I remember this conversation, I can’t help but think about Liv’s reaction as Sawyer was talking. He looked at her to confirm that this all sounded good, and she had the kindest, biggest smile as she enthusiastically nodded. She looked as happy, if not more, to give to me in this way than she looked to receive the baby gift from me earlier when we first saw each other. Two Bible verses come to mind:
“‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” - Acts 20:35
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7
To have friends who will spend their 1st wedding anniversary with me, invite me into their home, cook me lunch, and then commit to generously supporting me in my ministry work on the same day we also catch up, play with Fen, and compete in Mario Kart is a sweet gift and such a cool picture of God’s kindness, His provision, and how people choose to demonstrate that in different ways.
I am so grateful for the generosity in Sawyer and Liv’s heart to support me and for the way God planned this to be my first support meeting. Not only did it help with my financial goal, but it also gave my heart the encouragement it needed as I began this process of support raising and depending on the Lord as I partner with the Church body in new and unique ways. The Lord is for me and He has gifted me with people in my life that are also for me. With this first meeting and with every one since, I have continued to be reminded of this truth. People have overwhelmed me with their generosity to give financially, to pray bold prayers over me, and to connect me to other people to help me continue on this journey. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!