I wanted to be generous.

2 problems:

1. I was 16

2. I had no income

But I knew of a few needs:

1. There was a child (Jose) I'd decided to sponsor which was $38 per month

2. My sister wanted to go on a trip to Disneyland (which I wanted to fund)

$38 isn't a lot of money, right?

Wrong. (16 year old Daniel only had $100)

Which meant I needed to find a way to make money in the next 2 months or I wouldn't be able to sponsor the kid anymore.

This was the first test of God and his ability to provide.

But in my life I've tested him many times since:

Life is a test

I'm realizing I test a lot of things in my life.

Here was my test: is God worth being trusted financially?

I started with super low stakes:

16 years old

$38 per month

I thought: at some point I'll have a wife and kids and a mortgage and the stakes will be high. (I still have none of those things LOL)

So test with low stakes.

Here's the story:

After sponsoring Jose I knew I needed to get a job.

So I started applying to all the local grocery stores.

I was told no 5 times.

I was super frustrated and went and talked with my dad.

He asked "have you tried the ralphs down foothill yet?" (it was the only local store I hadn't tried yet)

I went there, they told me they weren't hiring, (no number 6) but the food 4 less across the street might be.

Side note: Notice how the action moved me in the right direction even though I didn't get the job? (also interesting that it was the 7th place)

Anyway, I waited 3 hours

Did I do nothing?

Nope.

I learned the store layout, made all the labels face the correct way.

After three hours he told me to come back tomorrow at 10AM.

Next day:

I arrived at 9:50

Rosana by Toto was playing when I walked in.

I waited ANOTHER three hours. at 1:03PM I went into his office. (Raul was his name)

He sat down behind his desk.

He asked me a few questions. (I realized I didn't have my birth certificate with me)

He hired me on the spot. (I was 1 of 2 minors hired at that location)

He was then transferred to another store after 2 months and no more minors were hired.

Let me tell you another story:

I was finishing my second year of thrive college. (two year internship at bayside church in northern California)

This time I only had $700.

I heard a sermon on generosity.

have you ever felt like God was asking more of you than you could give? (that's how I felt)

I felt prompted to give $100.

Sidenote: imagine giving 1/7th of all your money. (it felt like SO MUCH to give)

Again I tested (but with a slight twist)

It felt like such a sacrifice that I asked for $1000 in return for giving the $100.

I did it.

Having no idea what I was gonna do next.

Not sure if I'd move back to LA, or stay in Northern California.

3 days later I received a text. (from a number I didn't know)

A guy named Dan was asking if I'd be interested in grabbing lunch. He was looking for a drummer for his church.

I went to lunch with him.

He told me about the position

his answer blew my mind.

$1000 per month, for 10 hours a week. (40 hours per month)

My request answered. Exactly as requested.

So what am I talking about?

Why share these things now?

Today I'm 5 days away from being fully funded for a trip to Central Asia. To help with Economic Development.

Making a difference while we're there, but also making sure the work has impact after the two weeks.

I'm currently 51% funded, only $1932 away from being full funded.

I'm sharing this with you to give you the chance to partner with me.

Perhaps you've never tested like I have.

Perhaps you haven't been specific (In your request)

I'm so excited to see the faithfulness of God as I continue to walk in the faith he started in me at 16.

This is a daily dependence on him.

Not something I did once years ago.

It's your turn:

Here's what I want you to do.

1. Have you ever tested if God is worth trusting financially?

2. Is now a bad time to start? (big or small $1000 or $100)

3. Pray and decide: (is this something you're going to invest in?)

4. Give not because you have, to but because you want to:

5. Go to this website: (Update: Fully funded ty!) https://www.purecharity.com/checkout/558405

6. You don't have to do the 5% fee, I still receive 100% of the donation.

7. It is tax deductible. (through this portal)

8. If you'd rather give directly you can send via Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/DanielBaarns (last four is 9434)

9. If you’re intrigued but want to learn more book a 30 minute zoom here:https://calendly.com/d/cknw-cfm-hf9/central-asia-trip-call (Wednesday evening and Friday morning only 12 slots left)