It might not always be clear how donations are used on missions trips. So many of you have been so faithful to give to this trip, so today I would like to give you a glimpse of where I have seen the money used.
For the World Race, the primary expenses are:
Travel between countries and continents as well as to ministry sites. Often in rural areas, funds for ministry travel is especially important when your contact does not have excess money to come get you or travel to various ministry sites
Food there is a food budget provided of $3-5 a day. Yes, even in Europe. And yes, this is as difficult as it might seem. If there is splurging above that amount, it is with personal money.
Lodging Unless we are at a ministry site that does not have a place to house us and we end up sleeping in our tents, we also give our contacts a small lodging budget to offset costs for our stay.
In short, we raise support in order to live life within similar means of the people we are ministering to, with the intent of not being a burden in any way during our stay with them, as we are there to serve them as well as those that they are serving.
Last month I had the blessing to work alongside Light of Hope School in Kampot, Camodia. It was a rewarding experience in many ways: teaching English, making daily house visits, and living in community with the translators and other teachers on the school property. I also survived, and even loved, living in a room with 15 other girls.
Our contact is a visionary who founded a Christian school in a community where his family home is known as THE Christian’s home…the only one…surrounded by Buddhist temples. He also creates a home for the group of young translators who work with the school and other younger boys who, because of their faith, cannot live at home.
There is no money, no profit, only obedience to God. As Vuthy said during our orientation, ‘Sometimes money is important. Sometimes money is not important’…because in need, God can be seen moving in powerful ways. Vuthy has so many testimonies of God’s provision that back up his statement. God ALWAYS provides. Even in a place without resources, God always provides.
This is the miracle I witnessed with my own eyes: although there is no money, there is still an expansion of the ministry, including the visionary dreams of a university and clinic in an impoverished rural area of Cambodia…which would provide tangible hope to the people of this community.
Your donations are part of this miracle.
Because of the money we were able to provide, we were not only fed well, but were also to provide food for the boys while we were there.
Because the ministry already had a room for us to stay, lodging costs were able to be put towards future expansions of the university and clinic.
One amazing thing to me about this ministry is how well and wisely money is managed, in a place where there may be constant lack by Western standards.
Because of your giving, the visionary dreams of this ministry are slowly becoming kingdom realities.
Each building of this ministry, including the church, has been built with the money provided by World Race teams over the years.
I was also blessed to add to the legacy of this school by being one of the artists to complete a mural on the walls of this church building that had been built in faith and through donations to missions.
I have been so blessed by each of you that believe in and are a part of my journey. Each God story of this year is yours as well as mine, as you have given of your resources and time. You are each incredible supporters and I have been so encouraged by each and every donation.
There have been many days along this journey where I have questioned if I was supposed to remain here.
And then you donated.
And donated again.
Every donation, regardless of size, tells the same story. You believe in this. You believe in what God is doing. You believe in God working in me. And in your support, I see God’s faith in me as well. Your faithfulness to give tells me the story of His faithful heart towards me. And I am amazed.
Yes, I still have a little more to raise, and I know God will be providing all of it, but today I want to share with you the need of a teammate that is still needing funds or she is in danger of being sent home at the end of this month.
Time is critical for Jordan. As much as I have been blessed by you, I would ask you to prayerfully consider supporting her in whatever way you may be able.
You can read more about her journey here:
I don’t say it enough. Thank you for being faithful partners for what God’s kingdom around the world. Thank you for giving in faith and in sacrifice. Thank you for allowing me to be the hands and feet of His love.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10
