Do you want to know what a full month looks like?
When James and I started this journey we wanted to break down the scary large number we had to raise into more bite sized chunks. James figured it out and for $48.73 you could sponsor a day. Since there are two of us we can have two people sponsor each day!
A lot of people who gave chose their birthday, or anniversary, or a day in a country they really had a heart for. Most people sponsored a day or two. A few sponsored a whole week. We even had a few sponsor up to two weeks! We feel so blessed.
Then one day we had someone walk up to us and told us that they wanted to sponsor a whole month!!!!! . . . with the help of some awesome kids. The Edgerton Vacation Bible School kids wanted to sponsor our month in Nepal as they were going to learn about Mt. Everest and how God provides for us during our challenges!
And they did it! Here it is, a month of our calendar completely blocked out!
The yellow are all of the days that the VBS kids (and the supporting parents, family members, and friends who were at the Friday night program) sponsored. The kids raised over $1,500 during the week to sponsor one of us for the whole month and then the offering during the Friday night program helped with the rest!
(The days that are purple and orange are days that were already sponsor before the VBS kids took on the challenge to be God’s providing blessing for us.)
When you look through our calendar you will see some days will be half blocked out by purple – which means one person has sponsored that day for $48.73, but we are looking for another sponsor to partner with us for that day!
The days that are completely blocked out by the orange and purple have two people sponsoring them. But!! If that day is truly near and dear to your heart just let us know! We can add a third person to that day as well.
So what happens when you sponsor a day? Well we hope that you will make sure to pray for us during those days! (And any other day you can as well!) We will also be journaling while we are gone and we will send you our journal entries from that day so you can see how your support truly made a difference around the world.
Please, prayerfully consider helping us to go out and make disciples of all nations. You can partner with us and as your feet stay here in the U.S. your heart will be out with us in the 11 countries we are traveling too.
A big thank you to everyone who has helped us so far! We appreciate your encouragement and prayers. I would also like to take this time to thank the anonymous donor who gave to our account recently! I cannot send you a card, but I hope you feel our thankfulness as you blessed our ministry!
Here is our calendar. We hope you can find a day (or days) that you would like to sponsor.
Uganda: Once a kingdom and British protectorate, for most of the later half of the 20th century, Uganda was under military rule, first under Idi Amin, the subject of the film “The Last King of Scotland.” Much of northern Uganda was also troubled by the Lords Resistance Army which heavily recruited child soldiers (Kristin regularly supported Invisible Children, a non-profit whose mission was to free children and adults who were forced into the LRA).
Referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is diverse in topography and wildlife. Your gifts may bring us to the north part partnering with ministries that are bringing still-needed healing and reconciliation or in the south working with churches to evangelize and disciple the next generation of Kingdom workers.
Rwanda: Many who hear “Rwanda” immediately think, “genocide” – it was 16 years ago when 800,000 people were killed over the course of about three months. According to the U.S. State Department, Rwanda (once colonized by France) has the highest population density in sub-Sahara Africa; and like much of sub-Sahara Africa, this nation also is fighting hard against HIV/Aids. This nation played a part of the genesis of International Justice Mission. As we help bring healing to a country sill recovering from this deep wound, God may birth a dream or vision in us . . .
Ethiopia: With a deep religious tradition and a population of diverse faith, Ethiopia carries a rich history and was one of the earliest countries to accept Christianity. Located north of Kenya on the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia boasts deserts, mountains, and tropical forests, and is the largest producer of coffee in the world. But as the modern world expands, Ethiopia struggles. Rural villages remain isolated, in many areas without clean water or access to markets. As many people move to the cities hoping for a better life, the country’s stability to provide basic services is strained. Ministry in Ethiopia is as diverse as its people. Your support may help us serve street kids in the city, helping them find shelter, food, and the love of Jesus, or we might preach the gospel and encourage the growing church in rural areas.
India: With nearly a sixth of the world’s population within its borders, India is a country bursting with people and culture. Home to a diverse array of beliefs from Hinduism to Islam, to a blend of folk religions and other faiths, it is a country of pluralism with twenty-nine languages spoken by over a million native speakers, multiple religions, cuisine, socio-economic classes, and political parties. India’s struggles with poverty and crimes of human trafficking, forced prostitution, religious persecution, and more. Your sponsorship may bring us to work with local-churches to encourage believers and most likely be challenged by their testimonies. Your gifts will help us to bring hope and truth to those that society deems “untouchable.”
Nepal: Home to Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, Nepal literally sits on top of the world. In addition to adventurous experiences we will have here, we may also visit widows and orphans in their times of distress and protect the innocent who are prey to human traffickers. This month of our World Race experience will submerge us in a culture that is desperate for an encounter with the living God.
Malaysia: Your support this month will send us into a world entrenched in Islam. A people within the thriving metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysians still live in ignorance of the Good News of Jesus Christ. As we delve into this culture of works-based religion, strong self-discipline, and uncanny faith, we will have the unique opportunity to deliver hope and point the people to their Redeemer.
Thailand: The kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and 0.7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Your gifts will help to send us to a place where we can change lives in the city—where we, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes—or in the countryside where we may serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
Cambodia: Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. It later became a Buddhist complex a century later, and today, just over 96% of Cambodia is Buddhist. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point, and destination of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the hope the we can bring.
Guatemala: A country rich in history and natural resources—fertile soil from the volcanoes help yield excellent coffee. Outside of its aesthetic appeal, Guatemala needs God’s touch. Gripped by poverty and bound to a spirit of religion, the people of Guatemala hunger for the kingdom of God to pervade their lives. Your support will help to usher in the kingdom to this land and reach out to the people on the fringes of society through hard work, relationships, and maybe even a miracle or two.
We visited in Guatemala during our first months of marriage. It was a trip with a dual-purpose. It allowed us to see Collin & Kendra (Kristin’s brother & sister-in-law) as they taught there for three years and it was also our honeymoon. We are excited to be able to go back and witness there.
Honduras: “Hondo” comes from the Spanish word for depth and there’s lots of depth to Honduras. It’s home to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, whose ruins are still standing. Honduras is mostly mountainous and the weather is as tropical as it gets. What really runs deep in Honduras are its needs. Honduras is the third poorest in the region, after Haiti and Nicaragua. Like her neighbors, Honduras has had her fair share of political/military troubles. There’s a need to reach out to the youth, not just to keep them out of trouble (e.g. gangs) but for them to know their worth and that they are loved.
We have had friends who have spent time living & teaching in Honduras. We are excited to follow up on the work that our friends Amy Kallemeyn and Kayla (Vanderburgh) Schmalz have started.
Nicaragua: This location is always a World Race favorite. It’s a country full of wonderfully warm and caring people and participants always leave having had a powerful experience. However, hopelessness, addictions, destitution, and poverty still plague the lives of Nicaragua. There are orphans who have grown up without knowing the love of a parent and families who get by each day by scrounging scraps from the city dump where they have made their homes. In Nicaragua, your sponsorship will provide us with the opportunity to bring God’s love through slum ministry, door-to-door outreach, outreach to children, and more.
