Two years ago, I climbed Mt. Fuji. It was horrible. I really mean it. Worst night of my life. There’s a Japanese saying that goes something like “climb once as a wise man, twice as a fool.” My apologies to whoever said that, but I have to disagree. Stay in Tokyo and eat sushi as a wise man, climb Mt. Fuji as a complete and total idiot. My legs were sore for a year. Okay, that’s a small exaggeration, but you understand.
As I begin this fundraising season, I kind of feel like I’m standing at the bottom of that mountain again. $18,017. Eighteen thousand seventeen dollars. It’s a lot of money. But I know this is the first step of the adventure. If I’m going to trust God enough to follow him around the globe, I can trust him to provide the funds. My God will meet all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Or, as my sister says, “if it’s God’s will, he pays the bill.”
And so I’m fundraising. That awkward, dreaded part of ministry. I’ve never done this before, but I’m determined to do it right according to the word. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” So, if you decide in your heart that you would like to give, please do. Know that there is no compulsion or manipulation. God will provide, one way or another. He has promised to do so. This is simply an opportunity for you to join with me, to be a partner in this calling. I want you to be able to read this blog next year, see the stories in Uganda or Cambodia, and know that you are a part of that mission.
If you do decide to give, I’d like you to know exactly where your money is going. My sister and I are fundraising as a team, which means that all the totals are doubled. You can follow her blog here. Here’s an outline of our fundraising goals:
$10,000 by 04/01/2017
$20,000 by 06/01/2017
$26,000 by 08/01/2018
$36,034 by 10/01/2018 ($18,017/person)
All the money we raise goes to Adventures in Missions (the missions organization World Race is under) and will cover all our necessary expenses (food, travel, lodging) the entire time we are overseas. Everything you give is nonrefundable and tax deductible. This chart shows what, exactly, that $36,034 pays for.
The vast majority of the money we raise goes directly to our racer expenses. Here’s a further explanation of those charts:
2% ($721) Training Camp (cultural training before departure)
4% ($1,441) Field Support (getting us supplies, supporting local contacts, etc.)
12% ($4,324) WR Development Program (improvements and developments)
17% ($6,126) Administration Fees (processing, paying the staff who take care of every detail of our travel, food, lodging, etc.)
65% ($23,422) World Racer Budget ($11,711/person)
And here’s how that big 65% $23,422 ($11,711/person) “World Racer” budget breaks down:
45% ($10,540) Intercontinental travel
13% ($3,045) Food
19% ($4,450) Lodging
11% ($2,576) Transportation
12% ($2,811) Long Distance Travel and Misc. Supplies
Again, all of the totals are doubled to cover both mine and Miranda’s expenses. We’re encouraging people to donate to either one of our pages. Once one of the totals fills up, we’ll let everyone know to switch to the other page.
Thank you in advance to everyone who decides to donate. If you don’t want to give, please continue to read, to follow our journey. I hope you will partner with us in some other way, through encouragement or by spreading the word, but especially through your prayers.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. -Ephesians 3:20-21
