Being on the World Race has been, for lack of a better and all-encompassing word, AMAZING. It has been life-changing. We have gotten to see and experience so many places and lifestyles. We have been overwhelmed by generosity from both our supporters and our hosts in-country. We have learned about the character of God and learned what honest, genuine, caring, loving, laughter-filled friendships look like. We have grown personally through feedback sessions and had our pride checked… big time.
It has also been hard.
The lump sum of money that was fundraised in order to be able to even leave America for this mission trip covers travel, food and living expenses while I am on the field. That is typically anywhere from $1-$5/day to eat. This includes travel days and off days where we are allowed to explore the country we are living in. A meal under $5 is a rare find, much less 3 meals a day for that budget, much less a morning coffee to start the day! If I want to job search, apply for jobs, check my emails, catch up on blogs and social media, and call friends and family, I have to find a restaurant or coffee shop with Wifi and make a purchase. I spent yesterday’s “off-day” holed up in Starbucks for 10 hours writing cover letters and applying for jobs (because it’s the most reliable wifi I have found in Cusco!) That’s quite a few coffees!
The money I raised doesn’t fund toiletries such as shampoo or deodorant, or laundry (when that’s an option)… I have even used personal money to pay for a hot shower when it was 30 degrees outside in Bolivia. I can’t say I regret it. This is not to say we don’t absolutely appreciate what we get. We have learned so much this year.
Now we are in Peru, and we have the opportunity to spend our off day visiting MACHU PICCHU. It is closing to the public in 2 years to help preserve it, and we are just a bus ride away from this earthly wonder.
I feel that the Lord is calling me into humility this season. Knowing that I have so many amazing supporters who have funded this journey so far makes it that much harder to ask for more financial support, but I have come to realize that this is my independent, western perspective at work. So I humbly ask you to consider supporting my personal finances. A little goes a long way and truly any amount would bless me.
In ADDITION to the funds required to leave for this mission trip, THIS is what you have already helped me with:
- Church offerings at every church service we get to attend
- Fixing the bikes that the Cambodian students we lived with used to ride to school
- Buying shoes for 24 children ages 3-15 in a remote Ethiopian village
- Surprising our host by paying off his college debt so he can pursue his Masters Degree and continue to dream big
- Buying host gifts for the women who cooked and cleaned for us all month in Rwanda
- Personal clothes for varying temperatures
- Meals and bottles of clean water
- Postcards and gifts to send home
- Meals beyond the $1-$5 a day (sometimes I just want a nice coffee, you know?)
- In-country adventure days:
- Nepal: Hiking the Himalayas
- Thailand: Phuket Island tour
- Cambodia: Historic Killing Fields
- Vietnam: Hoi An Historic District
- Bolivia: Overnight bus ride and tour of the Salt Flats
What I’m asking you to support me in for Months 9-11:
- Machu Picchu
- Money to buy snacks where WiFi codes are available for job applications, blogs, and calling friends and family
- Meals and bottles of clean water
- Toiletries and Laundry
- Replacing my ripped raincoat
- Additional opportunities to bless the host families or communities these next 3 months
Every amount helps whether it’s going towards Machu Picchu or my last 3 months abroad!!!
If you would like to support me in this way, the most convenient way would be through an app called Venmo. It is quick to set up and is perfectly secure to put your card or account information into. If you would like to support me but feel more comfortable doing so via check then you can contact my parents, Joyce & JB Brannis (“Top Dad”), and they will deposit into my bank account.
Venmo: @JanineBrannis
Or you can talk to my parents or email me for other options: [email protected]
I appreciate you so much and am so grateful for those of you consistently checking in, commenting, and supporting me. You are a blessing in itself.
