Blessings
We are grateful for all of our many supporters – those who continuously pray for us, those who take the time to encourage us, those who donate supplies for camp activities, those who do their gift shopping through our mission store, those who help us with fundraisers, those who drive us to and from the airport, those who take care of our cat and mow our yard, those who make sure we come home to food in our fridge, those who come to serve along side of us, those who give financial gifts outright. We are blessed by your efforts to help us do what God has led us to do, and we pray God will bless you in return.
Sometimes, the task of saving and raising $9000 every year can be pretty consuming. I can truthfully say I don’t spend any time worrying that the funds will be there. God always provides, and if there would come a year in which He didn’t, we know that would mean He has a different plan. But we know we can’t just sit back and tap our foot waiting for people to give. In fact, there is ministry to be done in the very act of fundraising. So we spend the 11 months of the year we are here in the US working toward that end. Sometimes, it wears me down. Last Sunday, I’m ashamed to admit, a couple of dear friends had the misfortune of seeing me in the midst of a little frustration moment as I’ve been planning fundraisers to carry out over spring break.
Today we received word that a check arrived in support of our ministry – a rather large check from someone Ben knew well back in high school and I have only met once. Two other families have given generous financial gifts to send us to this mission field. Combined, these gifts total $2350. I’d have to make 195 wrap bracelets, about 83 hours, to raise those same dollars through mission store sales! I don’t want to diminish gratitude towards those who have bought from our mission store. Those sales have raised $2638 this year! But I am feeling an overwhelming sense of thankfulness towards these families who have just purely followed God’s leading them to give abundantly.
We still have a ways to go to meet our basic need for this mission ($1385 at the time of this writing). But there is a light at the end. I hope that our spring break fundraiser (watch for announcements!) will close that gap, provide additional funds we can use to give Ukrainian refugee children scholarships for camp, and allow me to shift gears from fundraising to really preparing for the work God has called us to do. Is God leading you to be a Sender? I promise you will be blessed for your obedience and role in spreading the gospel. Financial Support Page
(thank you)
The Journey Back 