So, I have put off writing this blog for awhile, simply because when something stresses me out, I usually just push it aside, and tell myself I will deal with it later. And it continues to stress me out until it is overwhelming. Which is not a healthy way of dealing with things.
So here is my attempt to not fall into the same trap again. 🙂
For Josh and I to be able to take part in the World Race, we have to raise $31,000. Which is ALOT of money. I think the most I have ever had in my bank account at one time was like $1,000. So putting a 3 in front of that just doesn't really compute. Although it is a lot of money, the total will pay for all of our expenses on the field, minus travel insurance and extra spending money. Which, we are living out of a backpack, so we will not be doing much souvenier shopping anyway.
We have set goals for each month leading up to when we launch in July. To stay accountable to these goals, I will post them here, as well as updating on our progress.
October 1st, 2011: $1,000
Novermber 1st, 2011: $3,000
December 1st, 2011: $5,000
January 1st, 2012: $8,000
February 1st, 2012: $10,000
March 1st, 2012: $12,000
April 1st, 2012: $16,000
May 1st, 2012: $20,000
June 1st, 2012: $25,000
July 1st, 2012: $31,000
So, these goals are pretty lofty, but I would really love to be fully funded before we leave, so we can focus 100% on ministry. We will be selling most of our stuff (including Josh's car!) when we move out of our apartment at the end of February to raise money. We will also be doing various fundraisers, so stay tuned to learn about those when they come.
We really need the support of friends and family. I work at a not-for-profit animal shelter, and Josh has two minimum wage, part-time jobs, so the money is not exactly flowing for us, haha. By supporting us, you are facilitating life changing things around the world. Just read some of the blogs on the World Race website of current racers. The stories are absolutely amazing. People who have been sick or physically disabled for years have been healed. Women trapped in the sex trafficking industry in Southeast Asia have learned that they are worth more than the highest paying bidder and that there is a way out. Orphanages have been built. Churches are starting in villages that have never heard the Gospel.
Maybe you have always wished that you could be a part of something that brings about change, love, and hope. But you have not been able to because of a job, school, family, or time. By supporting us, you can actively take part in our journey.
So, how can you help? There are so many ways that you can.
*Sending in a one time donation. Whether it is a large amount or small amount, every little bit helps, and is appreciated more than you know. You can either:
*Donate electronically by clicking the link on the left that says "Support Us". This is great because it is very convenient for many. However, if you donate online, a portion of the donation is taken out by the credit card company.
* Send a check to the Adventures in Missions office in Atlanta Georgia. If you do this, 100% of your donation goes towards our Support account.
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, Georgia 30353-4470
Also, donations are tax deductible!
*Becoming a monthly donor. Because we will be overseas for 11 months, and will be operating on a monthly team budget, monthly donors are extremely important! Being a monthly donor is also a good plan if you cannot give a large amount up front. Even if you can only give, say, $20 a month, starting this month and continuing through the end of our Race, you could give 1% of our total needed! Which does not sound like much, but if we have 50 monthly donors at $20 a month, that is HALF of our total! (Which is what most Racers, as single, non-married people have to raise).
*Praying for us. We believe in the power of prayer. It is soooo important to have friends and family covering us and our squad in prayer. Knowing that we have love and spiritual support back home is absolutely essential.
*At the end of February, our apartment lease is up. We are praying that we will have somewhere to go after that, where we can live for free or super cheap. Many Racers live with their parents in the months leading up to leaving for the World Race, but that is not really an option for us, although they would love for us to.
My parents live 3 1/2 hours away, and it is not worth giving up a decent paying full time job that I love for a job that is not guaranteed, and probably at a grocery store or fast food restaurant.
Josh's parents, however, only live about 20 minutes away. The problem is, they are very allergic to cats, and we have two cats, (sort of three, if you count Moo, our foster kitten that we may or may not still have by then 😉 ) and having the cats live with us would bring about a medical emergency. Not to mention that my 20 minute drive to work would become a 40 minute drive. That is quite a bit when you work full time. So, we are trying to figure out where we are going to go, and what we are going to do with our cats, both during this transitional time and while we are overseas. Finding them permanent new homes is not an option. I love my cats too much to give them up forever.
So, if you are in the Springfield, MO area, have an extra bedroom, and don't mind taking on two missionaries and their 2 (maybe 3) cats, to live for cheap or free, please let us know. You would be helping us more than you even know. It is kind of scary not knowing what we are going to do, but we are trying to have faith that it will work out.
* We are also selling Threads of Hope bracelets. They are $2 a piece, and for every bracelet sold, $1 goes towards our Race, and $1 goes back to the families in the Philippines that handmade the bracelets. For more info, check out their website: http://www.threadsofhope.com.ph/index.html
Any way that you can help us is very much appreciated. If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to Facebook me, email me at [email protected], or leave a comment.
Thank you guys so much! 🙂
"Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God – the rest will be given." -Mother Theresa
