Fundraising

So I knew that fundraising was going to be the hardest thing about this job. And also the thing that tested my faith the most. I have to believe 100% that if God wants me to do this job, He will open any doors that need to be opened to get me to Europe in August.

But the thing is, I am lazy. I will admit it. I am not a self-starter. I feel like I am so completely behind when it comes to fundraising. And I got some great advice from one of my pastors. He told me, "When it comes to asking for money for God, you can't hesitate. Don't even blink." Easier said than done. But he makes since.

I am not asking people for money for me. I am asking people for money for a ministry that I believe in whole-heartedly. Completely. And I am asking people to believe in it with me and make it possible for God's work to be done through me. But I will admit that it is still hard for me to pick up the phone and ask someone if I can come talk to them about my fundraising. Its hard. I like writing letters better. But letters don't work as good as face-to-face appeals. So here I sit. Knowing I have to trust God, and falling short on my faith. I hate that. It's a battle I will have to fight everyday of this journey.

I know God is in control. The little things that happen are amazing. The people who just hand me checks. I had a former student give me a check on Saturday. 18 years old and writes me a check from her account because her parents plan to give too. I am amazed.

My First Letter

** *I promise to tell you how I got to this point soon***

Friends and Family

I am writing you to let you know the wonderful and exciting things that are going on in my life. It won’t surprise you when I say that I have always loved working with students. God has blessed me with a gift and a passion, and I have continually been given the opportunity to use this passion.

But many of you may not know about my other passion, the one I always set aside because I didn’t know what to do with it. It may have started with my grandfathers, or when someone close to me joined the Marine Corps, but my secret passion is for our military. It has always been something that burned within me, but it was a passion I never thought would fit into my life.

Here is where it gets interesting. I knew God was big, but I guess I didn’t realize that he could have plans that would be so perfect for me. I can remember hearing my parents tell me a million times growing up that when I knew what I was passionate about, I would know what I should be doing with my life. So I have a passion to work with students, and to support our military forces, what do I do with that God? And he answered me.

THE ANSWER
Youth For Christ is an organization that reaches out to military teenagers by providing missionaries for a program called, “Club Beyond.” At Club Beyond we develop meaningful relationships with military dependent teens through group meetings, Bible studies, mission trips, and camps. I have just returned from a week in Colorado where I got so excited about how this program and organization works. It was during this week that I realized that this was God’s next step for me. This is where He took my passions and rolled them perfectly together so I knew what to do with them. This is it.

I want to thank you for your part in getting me to this place in my life. Whether you have been a part of my life through church, or are a family friend, I would not be here today were it not for the support and lessons I have learned from you. I am confident that God and my faith are a part of this journey and I hope you will be as well.

I will be contacting you within the next few weeks to arrange an appointment whenever I can to share my vision, answer questions, and invite you to partner with me as I pursue this calling.
God Bless