Support raising- a journey in faith

some of the kiddos I'll be working with

I am officially an International Teams missionary!  Almost a week ago, I received an e-mail welcoming me to the Iteams family, and I was so overwhelmed, so grateful, I wept.  There are no words to express the gratitude I feel, the incredible joy and anticipation as I look to the future.

 

mi llajta (my home)

For those of you who have only heard bits and pieces, I am leaving my job at Calvert in May, and plan to return to Cochabamba once I have raised all my support to be a long term missionary at The Center, a place I've been working at and volunteering with on and off for almost 2 years.  At this point, long-term just means a 2 year commitment with the possibility of staying on longer.  I will be home in Colorado by June, and plan to spend most of my time raising the support I need to return to the ministries I love.  International Teams requires me to raise all my support before leaving for the field.

          me with some of the members of the church
My primary job will be The Center, an after-school center for kids from a poor neighborhood in Coch.  The Center provides spiritual and educational support, education for the kiddos about how to take care of their body and provides them with a safe environment to play with others their age.  My job will most likely be to teach the kids English, which is an incredible gift and a leg up in Bolivia.  I have the opportunity to give these kids the same level of education I'm currently giving Bolivia's rich.  What an opportunity!

Andreina, Briseyda, me

During my spare time, I hope to continue the relationships that I have been pouring into in my community and church.  I've been discipling several girls in the church, I'm the worship leader at my church, and I also really enjoy encouraging the Quechua women from my church.  Since my hours will be more flexible at The Center, I will have more time to really pour myself into these ministries as well.

So, here's where you come in.  In order to return to Cochabamba after June, I need to raise about $33,000 for 2 years.  Eek!  To me, it seems like a lot of money, but this is one of the leaps of faith I have to take.  I haven't even left yet, and I'm already aching for the time that I will lose while back in the States, trying to raise what I need.  My hope is to raise all my support by September at the latest, but I know that might be really optimistic.  The majority of my support can be raised through monthly pledges, but $2,000-$3,000 need to be raised upfront for one time expenses.   If you would like to support me, you can go online to www.iteams.org.  Click on Iteams USA, and then "give".  Any money you give is tax-deductible.  It's hard for me to ask for money, and I know that it brings a lot of responsibility.  But, my money really isn't my own anyway, so I guess this is just another lesson in trusting God with everything I have.

p.s. I will be sending out an official support letter soon:)

 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.
 He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit." 
Jeremiah 17:7-8