Thank you so much for your continued prayers and your generous investments.
In this first month and a half that I have been actively support raising, you have provided $1700 in one-time gifts, and an additional $330 in monthly pledges. Adding this to the amount of $7150 that I feel I was called to contribute, a level of 61% funding has been been reached, at a current total of $8850. Amazingly, $1350 of your contributions have come in just the last one week, and I cannot express to you how humbling and empowering it has been to witness.
A member of the AIM staff has outlined for the July squad a number of checkpoints for support raising, and I feel so blessed that together we have already surpassed the amount of $8500 due by June 7th. The remaining two goals are set during the time our squad will be in the field, and they are:
- October 1, 2010 – 80% funded; $11,000
- January 1, 2011 – 100% funded; $14,300
While these goals seem like a long way off right now, it is in the best interest of our mission if I remain focused on support raising until the journey is fully funded. If I fall behind on these goals while in the field, I will be required to take time away from missions until I have caught up.
I also want to take this opportunity to continue my effort to be as clear as possible about my attitude and vision for funding this mission. I am sure some who read this blog will simply see me asking for money, and perhaps that is my own shortcoming in not communicating effectively.
The simple truth is, God willing, I could likely sell enough of my things to raise the $14,300 for the total trip cost – I think most of us could. So why am I just trimming the fat, instead of selling all that I have, funding the whole trip, and giving the rest to the poor? First, because I feel an internal struggle between a western lifestyle (no, I don’t mean living like a cowboy), and the choice that Jesus offered that rich man, as described in Matthew 19:21. Second, because – as several others have reminded me – self-reliance and fast funding aren’t the only goals of support Raising. In fact, the most important goal might be inviting others to be a part of the mission. Some of you might have the same attitude or desire that I have, but maybe you have a school loan, a mortgage, a husband, a wife, children, or other commitments that would make it difficult for you to spend eleven months abroad. Maybe you’ve already completed this stage of your journey, and you’re anxious to see another generation do the same. For whatever reason, you want to see this mission fulfilled. And so, this is my goal and my intent: if you believe in this mission, and if you trust that God is sending me and my teammates to be His hands and His feet, I want to invite you to be a part of it. I want you to be an active participant in this mission by sending us into the field, by following our stories and our photos, and supporting us in prayer when we have a need.
Another thing I must thank you for is the great accountability imposed on me by your contribution. If I did attempt to fund the full amount, and if I succeeded, it would [unfortunately] be so easy for me to see that as a personal victory – as something I had done, to meet the needs of the poor and help them grow closer to God. I believe it is our nature to try and be self sufficient. But we were created for fellowship, for encouraging and challenging one another, that we might struggle and cry and persist and rejoice together. Instead of this being my missions trip, this is our missions trip.
All I can do to raise support is tell my story and share my vision truthfully and deliberately, and rely on God to move others to participate, or not. And the affirmation that comes from seeing you give of your resources is so much more encouraging than anything I have been able to conjure up with my own efforts. Thank you.
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Prayer requests
Training camp is coming up very soon – I will be flying to Atlanta on Friday, May 21. During our ten days in Georgia, AIM will do everything possible to prepare us mentally, physically, and spiritually for our journey. We will also find out which 5-8 people we will be partnered with from among the squad – the team that we will be a part of for eleven months. Please pray for wisdom among the AIM staff as they continue to analyze our information and put us into our small teams. And please pray for all the Racers, that our hearts will be soft and welcoming to one another, and that we will commit to each other regardless of any differences we might encounter.
On May 17, each July Racer must have at least $1500 in his or her support account, or risk not being a part of the July Race. There are still some who are short of this goal, but amazing things can happen when we are within God’s will. Please join me in praying for the needs of my teammates.
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Receiving a support letter
If you have not receieved a support letter and/or a support card, and you would like to receive one, please send me an email by clicking on the ‘contact me’ link on the left sidebar. The support card invites you to commit to prayer and sign up for the AIM newsletter, and allows you to indicate a financial contribution in the form of a regular gift or a one-time gift. The best way to make a financial contribution is by check, as this will ensure the total amount goes to my support account, without any deductions for credit card or bank processing fees. Completing the support card with your personal information will enable AIM to send you a receipt for your contribution.
