Hello everyone. I have to say that blogging has been on my mind everyday, but I have been so busy with the daily routines of life and work that I have not really had the time to sit down and really contemplate on a good blog topic or post. I have a few ideas I want to write about and I will do so as soon as I have a day off (tomorrow being one! A Sunday non-the-less, seems perfect for a day of rest).
I want to update everyone who knows about my blog, has gotten a support letter, or has just stumbled upon it. I am working 4 part time jobs this summer (a steady full time job would have been nice, but it did not work out that way). I work at an Italian restaurant called Rosa Bianca's on the weekends, I cut grass during the week, I cater lunch for Boston Marker Monday through Friday (on call so some weeks are everyday, some are only a few), and I also now work two days a week in Boston Market doing dishes (its 10 an hour since they hired me at that rate for a catering driver, I get to keep the same pay rate, so yeah I will wash dishes for that). Fun fact – I am also a youth leader for my local church on Tuesday nights so that takes up my time (I love doing, have been for almost a year, and I do not mean that in a negative way, just that my time goes) I need to work this much because I have…
A. Student loans (120 a month, not that much compared to graduates, but enough for me considering I am not in school right now)
B. A 120$ a month car payment
C. 30$ phone bill
D. Various other small bills, gas, food, and other living expenses
E. I need to save up for camping gear that I need for the trip, along with spending money for things I might need each month that we can not bring with us
The rest of my time I am fundraising. I will do my best to update this blog as often as possible, but I can guarantee you when on the trip, I will be blogging as much as humanly possible. I will not be working all the jobs I have and worried about all the stresses that accompany fundraising, but I can concentrate on doing our mission's work and what actually matters.
ALSO – quick update on what is going on / prayer requests
1. I have a meeting with the mission's board at my home church tomorrow, June 9th, at 12:30. Please pray that this goes well and God can provide this way.
2. I am talking with the Youth Pastor of this home church (Bible Fellowship), and we are seeing if I can do some fundraisers with the youth group (car wash and I wanted to plan / run a sports tournament). Pray that this can work out, that kids want to help, and that I can handle what it takes to run something like this / find helpers
3. My local town's newspaper (Yardley, PA) wants to run a story on the mission's trip I am going on. It has been hard to get in touch with them after they confirmed that they wanted to do a story (I guess they are busy, and I am busy when they are not). So pray that can happen soon and that word gets out that way.
4. Most importantly, for me to have faith that God will provide when the time comes for financial deadlines, and for me to trust him after I have done everything I can do to plan fundraisers.
