financial update
Making Progress!
We’ve been slowly climbing to our fundraising goal for this year’s trip, and we’re excited to announce that we just crossed the half-way mark! Between our own savings, generous donations from several supporters, Mission Store sales and our recent Simply A”door”able fundraiser, we’ve been able to raise $4,824.00 of the approximate $9000 we need to make the trip happen. We’d prefer to purchase our airfare no later than the end of March, but sooner would be even better. Currently, prices are actually a little lower than they were when we bought last year, so we’d like to move on it soon! We are trying to nail down our travel dates and then we’ll secure our tickets as soon as we have the money to cover them. After that, we will still need to raise/save the remaining funds for everything else (ground transportation, lodging, meals, and the cost of the programs we help run and service projects we do while we’re there.
A huge thank you to all who have contributed to getting us this far, and to all who will consider partnering with us. Here are some ways you can do that:
- Soup & Salad Luncheon on Sunday, January 24 after 2nd service.
- We have another Simply A”door”able fund raiser coming up on March 31. It’s fun! Come make something cute for your home or for a gift, and a portion of the profits will go to our mission trip.
- Check our Financial Support page to keep up with the progress and need or to make a donation.
- We’ll also be doing a yard sale this spring.
Thank you!
God Is Cool
So… we received an e-mail from Dave this week giving us his estimate of our expenses for this mission trip, which includes getting us where we need to be, lodging, and the cost of the actual things we’ll be doing while we’re there (projects, places we’ll go with the campers, etc.) It isn’t too far off from what I had estimated myself, but it was more. My previous estimate was already pretty overwhelming, so I found myself feeling a little discouraged that morning. I just really hate the fund-raising aspect. I hate asking people for money, I hate the feeling that I get that some people think we’re trying to get them to pay for some sort of family vacation, I hate everything about it. I know I should view it as giving people an opportunity to contribute to world missions when they are not able to travel themselves, but that’s not really how it feels.
So, I sent a text to two of my prayer friends just asking them to pray that God will provide, and that I will not allow myself to doubt or question that. I know in my mind and believe that He will (because this is His plan), but today I’m feeling weak. Here’s the cool part… are you ready for it? Later the same day, I get a call from Ben who has just found out that his stipend for coaching baseball hasn’t been added to his paychecks yet, meaning there will be a lump sum addition to his next check. Now, I’m thinking that this news could have come weeks ago or at the end of the year. But it didn’t. It came today, when I read the update on our expenses and was feeling a little overwhelmed at the task of saving/raising that much money. It came today, when I humbled myself enough to admit that I was struggling and asked my friends to pray. I know there are some who would say that is just a coincidence, but I find that a little far-fetched.
There’s still a long way to go, but my faith is feeling stronger. Thanks for praying, friends. Thank you, God, for showing me how much you have this under control, even though you shouldn’t have to prove yourself to me. I’m hearing the “Oh you of little faith” message loud and clear.
The Journey Back 