Today is the last day our family will ever call 21 E Lake Estates, Mt. Sterling IL, home. I feel like we are in the eye of the storm. One very stress filled moment has passed, while the other waits to pounce. We will enjoy this moment. The last night in our home was bitter-sweet. The girls did well. Emma tried to stay up as late as she could, but retired around 11pm. Annie and Lucy spent there last night seeing who could do the best cartwheels. With the house becoming emptier and emptier over the last few months, the only things left were a couple of air mattresses and our toothbrushes. Seems like we said goodbye to normal a while ago. Wendy did well too...until we prayed our last prayer we will ever pray in the room we prayed so many prayers in. I won't go into detail, but you can just imagine. Truth be told, I had to pry her out of our prayer room, or maybe it was just the smell of fresh coffee that made her finally get moving! For me, God is truly keeping me together for the moment. I just hope it lasts through the first month in Kampala. I'm sure my moment will come, and when it does, I know He will be crying along side me.
There are so many of you that are praying for us. Some of you have told us with a text or email. I just want to acknowledge we can feel your prayers. For all of you that are doing so, can I ask you to pray specifically about a few items.
1. Pray that God makes it clear the exact house in Kampala we are to purchase...I really believe this item is crucial for our families health and well-being and ministry longevity.
2. Pray that God keeps "ME" patient and balanced, not getting ahead of His plan; providing me with the leadership and wisdom for my family and Friday Night Church.
3. Pray that God protects Wendy and the girls from sickness and/or disease.
18 days until blast off...
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
FINANCIAL UPDATE
There's a question Wendy and I seem to be getting a lot as of late. "So how is your fundraising going?" For the record, fundraising isn't something that I hate or even dislike, but it's no picnic either. Raising support takes diligence and faithfulness. God continues to stretch both Wendy and I in these areas. It's good to be stretched, but Lord if you really do own the cattle on a thousand hills, could you sell a few for us?
So how is the fundraising going? Honestly, slow...it's coming in at a pace that's beginning to make us nervous. Wendy and I have the funds to get there, but we need your help to stay there (I can just here some of you saying, "Sign me up!"). Sorry, I just couldn't resist. So what about getting a job in Kampala? This is the question I rarely hear, but know it's out there amongst conversations. The answer is, if I could I would, but with nearly 90 percent unemployment in Kampala...yes, I did say 90 percent, an American taking a job away from a Ugandan isn't a very popular move. Another question or idea we have gotten is, "What about starting a business in Kampala, after all it is a city of millions?" Wendy and I have discussed this in detail and are seriously open to this idea. But for now, in year one, getting our family settled into a new land and culture, developing relationships, and getting Friday Night Church off the ground seem to be more than enough to be focused on.
So let me lay it all out plainly...Our goal was $6000 per/mo. This would pay for Friday Night Church and our personal monthly needs. The charts located on our blog page entitled "Monthly Needs" are broken down for complete transparency of our expenses. With the challenge participants and other donors, we are now at approximately 18 percent, of our over all goal, which comes out to around $1000 per/mo. Now we understand that faith is a major component in mission work, and we have acted accordingly. Our airline tickets and container alone added up to a whopping $14,300. There have been so many unforeseen expenses that have added up to nearly another $6000. But again, God has been faithful and we have been able to pay for these thus far.
So once again we ask you to consider helping our mission. Yes, we need your prayers, and yes we need your monthly support. We're going. Would you please help us stay? For those that need a better understanding or visual of FNC, please click on the link below to grab a sneak preview of what I envision FNC becoming...
VISION OF FRIDAY NIGHT CHURCH...
Challenge Update...
So the 100@25x12=FNC challenge results have come in a bit slower than expected, but we remain hopeful. So far we have heard from and or collected 9 participants. We are looking for 91 more to join this effort. Again, for those who missed or forgot the challenge presented, Wendy and I believe we know 100 people that can afford to sacrifice $25 per month for 1 year to help launch Friday Night Church. This church will be planted and located in the city of Kampala, Uganda, Africa, with dreams of going further into other East African cities and nations.
So how is the fundraising going? Honestly, slow...it's coming in at a pace that's beginning to make us nervous. Wendy and I have the funds to get there, but we need your help to stay there (I can just here some of you saying, "Sign me up!"). Sorry, I just couldn't resist. So what about getting a job in Kampala? This is the question I rarely hear, but know it's out there amongst conversations. The answer is, if I could I would, but with nearly 90 percent unemployment in Kampala...yes, I did say 90 percent, an American taking a job away from a Ugandan isn't a very popular move. Another question or idea we have gotten is, "What about starting a business in Kampala, after all it is a city of millions?" Wendy and I have discussed this in detail and are seriously open to this idea. But for now, in year one, getting our family settled into a new land and culture, developing relationships, and getting Friday Night Church off the ground seem to be more than enough to be focused on.
So let me lay it all out plainly...Our goal was $6000 per/mo. This would pay for Friday Night Church and our personal monthly needs. The charts located on our blog page entitled "Monthly Needs" are broken down for complete transparency of our expenses. With the challenge participants and other donors, we are now at approximately 18 percent, of our over all goal, which comes out to around $1000 per/mo. Now we understand that faith is a major component in mission work, and we have acted accordingly. Our airline tickets and container alone added up to a whopping $14,300. There have been so many unforeseen expenses that have added up to nearly another $6000. But again, God has been faithful and we have been able to pay for these thus far.
So once again we ask you to consider helping our mission. Yes, we need your prayers, and yes we need your monthly support. We're going. Would you please help us stay? For those that need a better understanding or visual of FNC, please click on the link below to grab a sneak preview of what I envision FNC becoming...
VISION OF FRIDAY NIGHT CHURCH...
Challenge Update...
So the 100@25x12=FNC challenge results have come in a bit slower than expected, but we remain hopeful. So far we have heard from and or collected 9 participants. We are looking for 91 more to join this effort. Again, for those who missed or forgot the challenge presented, Wendy and I believe we know 100 people that can afford to sacrifice $25 per month for 1 year to help launch Friday Night Church. This church will be planted and located in the city of Kampala, Uganda, Africa, with dreams of going further into other East African cities and nations.
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