A Fundraising Inspiration

Helena Lethlean, a teen from Melbourne, Australia, sacrificed her gorgeous long hair to raise money for her trip to Kathmandu, Nepal, over Christmas. Read her story:

"When I first heard about the opportunity to do a HOPE Youth Corp from a friend at church, God put it on my heart almost immediately to sign myself up. The thought of paying for it never even occurred to me, and within a week or two, I was filling out an application to participate in a HYC to Kathmandu, Nepal in December 2016.

A couple of weeks later, I received an email stating that I had gotten into the program. I was over the moon, and for the next few months, I eagerly awaited the Christmas holidays. I had heard nothing but good things about HYC programs, and was more than keen to experience one myself.

I decided it was a great , and set up a Gofundme account, put a post up on Facebook explaining what I was doing, and with a link to the Gofundme page so that people could donate if they wanted to. Within three days, I had raised $1095 to go towards Nepal. I was so overwhelmed at not only the kindness and generosity of my family and friends, but at the fact that God had it worked out all along. He was just waiting for the right time to reveal his plan. I chopped off my hair, and mum paid the rest of the money needed to secure me a spot in the program.

There is always a way. That is what I have learned from this experience. It may have been kind of minor in this circumstance, compared to the things that some people go through in their lives, but God always has a plan. He may not reveal it to us until the last minute, but that is how we develop faith and perseverance. I didn’t know what I was going to do, or how I was going to raise money, but by letting God step in, he sorted the whole thing out. I am so excited to participate in this HYC next month, and I am so grateful to have God in my life to allow me these opportunities.