For me, this year will be FULL of some crazy, awesome spiritual growth. When I prayed to God that I was tired of being comfortable and that I wanted to be uncomfortable, I never imagined it would have to with being stretched so far enough to fundraise almost $17,000.
So, this blog post is about the nitty gritty details of the most dreaded topic in the ministry field… SUPPORT! *fist pump* Things tend to get a little awkward once I start talking about money, but there are three things I want to share about this fundraising journey.
- Asking for money is super awkward for me. I can be a stubborn person who does not want to be helped and who wants to do it all by herself like a big girl. But… surprise! I physically cannot do it alone. I have to be vulnerable and embrace the awkwardness during this stage of my life. I am taking in this first stage of being uncomfortable in full force!
- I believe it is biblical. First, it stretches me out of my comfort zone to rely solely on God. It also stretches you by saying “yes” to what God is leading you to do and steps you out of your comfort zone as well. I’m 100% committed to learning the best way to fundraise biblically.
- I have nothing to hide. This post will outline exactly how you can help and where the $17,000 is going as well. I want to be completely transparent with not only my personal journey, but also my fundraising journey. If you have ANY question at all, shoot me an email at [[email protected]]
And now, for all of the details!
First, I want to outline my deadlines:
- $5,000 – Due 5/13/2016
- $10,000 – Due 7/22/2016
- $13,000 – Due 9/30/2016 (1 month into Race)
- $16,961 – Due 11/30/2016 (3 months into Race)
- $2,000 additional expenses not included in World Race trip costs
Part of becoming a World Race Missionary (wow, calling myself a missionary kind of took my breathe away, God is SOOO good!), means I am responsible for raising the funds for the 11 months I am gone. Even though I do not leave until August, the fundraising aspect begins right away. This amount goes to Adventures in Missions (the missions organization World Race is under) and will cover all our necessary expenses (food, travel, lodging) the entire time I am overseas on World Race.
So, where exactly does the $16,961 go?! This chart will show you!
- 2% ($340) Training Camp Cultural training before departure. This is the camp that I will go from June 8-18 and is full of spiritual, mental, and physical preparation!
- 4% ($678) Field Support Getting us supplies, supporting local contacts, etc. This is all for the ministries that we will taking part in.
- 12% ($2,035) WR Development Program Improvements and developments for the current and future World Race Routes
- 17% ($2,883) Administration Fees Processing, paying the staff who literally take care of every detail of our travel, food, lodging, etc. months in advance and during our race as well
- 65% ($11,024) World Racer Budget See below for further breakdown
- $861 Health Insurance
And here’s how that big 65% “World Racer” budget breaks down:
- 45% ($7,632) Intercontinental travel (from continent to continent)
- 13% ($2,204) Food, that doesn’t seem bad to me considering how much I spend in a year on food in the U.S.
- 19% ($3,222) Lodging, we are in tents most months but it is possible to be in a hostel, in a host home, and in hotels in debriefing weeks.
- 11% ($3,410) Transportation, in country travel like Tuk Tuks in Thailand and tap taps in Haiti! (google that, it’s pretty cool!)
- 12% ($3,720) Long Distance Travel and Misc. Supplies, travel from country to country, or airport to field city
I also need to raise additional support for other expenses not covered in the $16,961 such as airfare to and from the 10-day training camp in June (about $500), airfare to Launch (where my squad all meets up to leave the country, probably around $350) and gear I will need for the 11 months (read my post about all my gear here:Gear Shower Post. I estimate I will need around $2,000 to cover these additional costs.
Where I am now
Right now, I am at 4.43%, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me so far! ( I am now at 94% funded as of July 16th!) It’s humbling, but incredible to see the beginnings of what God is doing in me and in you through this journey. I am currently going a T-shirt Fundraiser (find the info for that Here). I just wrapped up the Change the World Jars and I am soo happy to share that 16 jars were adopted! YAY!, and I am also selling Threads of Hope bracelets (post on Facebook coming soon!).
So how do I meet my final deadline in November of $16,961? One of the best ways is through monthly commitments. Whether it’s $10 or $100, monthly commitments make a huge difference in helping me reach my goal. Of course, one-time gifts are always welcome as well.
To me, support means more than a quick prayer or a check – it’s far more profound than that. Support represents us locking arms together, sharing the vision God’s put on my heart and the mission He’s put in my hands. God designed us for community, and even when I am living halfway around the world, I still consider you family. If my story captures your heart in some way, I would love for you to join me on this journey. There are several ways you can do that:
- Share. Helping me share my message is one of the most meaningful ways you can show your support. If something I write resonates with you, I encourage you to pass it along. Follow my blog and share it with others. Connect with me on Facebook (click to add me) and help me get the word out about what I am doing. I would be honored if you would share my story.
- Prayer. I recognize there is no way I can do this alone. I am dependent on God working in me, through me, and around me. This journey will be stretching and challenging in many ways I can’t anticipate, but I know the prayers going before me will make a way.
- Financial. Of course, a large part of my need is, very practically, financial. I would be honored to have you join me on this journey. There are a few ways to do that below:
Funds donated to Adventures in Missions will be applied exclusively to the base cost of the trip with World Race, and cannot be applied to our other expenses. Did I mention donations are tax- deductible?!
- One-time donations can be given by clicking on the “Support Me” tab at the top of this page. It is tax-deductible and 100% of the donation is put into my account unlike other fundraising sites.
- Monthly giving can be done by using a secure system called Dynapay. It transfers the bank draft automatically each month for you and is provided by Adventures in Missions. (click on link)
- Checks can also be mailed in to: write out to Adventures in Missions and put “PITTMANBAILEY” in the memo line
Adventures in Missions P.O. Box 742570 Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
Thanks for sticking with me to read all the way to this point! If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!
