A few days ago I arrived at a friend’s house for dinner and collapsed on their kitchen floor under the weight of all my big questions and emotions about fundraising #ChristianHipsterProblems. Fortunately, my friend Maria informed me that she had just mopped the floor and her husband Colin had just started the grill for chicken sandwiches. The timing for my dramatic fall couldn’t have been better.
I explained that I have been struggling with fundraising because I feel like a leech that has become entirely focused on how big my needs are. Colin and Maria are both introverts so they understood when I told them I was going to go sit and write about this for a bit. I wrote some super angsty thoughts about how I don’t like asking for help because I’ve developed a savior complex where I’m more comfortable meeting the needs of others instead of expressing my own. I sometimes wish my late teen and early twenty years could take place in the 90s because angst was a much trendier look then.
Once I calmed down and put down my emotional selfie stick, I tried to get to the heart of what was going on. I realized via the wise words of my mom that I’ve been entirely self centered when it comes to how I’ve been viewing my fundraising. In an attempt to not seem like a used car salesmen, I haven’t been pointing to the people I’m going to be helping on this trip. I’ve been asking people to meet a need that I have. I haven’t been asking people to come along side me to help others.
I’ve been freaking out because the thought of asking people to give me $17,000 is ridiculous.
Luckily, I’m not asking you to give it to me. I’m asking you to trust that I’ve vetted Adventures In Missions and know they’re a trustworthy organization who’s doing a good work in helping those in need around the world.
Now I’m going to talk about some numbers for those of you who don’t understand the angsty writer side of me that fell on the floor.
According to the Reverend Doctor Google, Americans spend $15 on coffee a week. I have over a 1,000 friends on Facebook. So if all my Facebook friends give $15 then I’ll be more than fully funded.
I’m going to be giving up 11 months of my time. I’m asking you to give up your coffee budget for the week.
