Michael and I went yesterday for our first round of vaccinations. We each got 3 shots. I will definitely have more compassion for my children the next time they get shots. I say "first round" because we will each need 2 more doses of Hep B, as well as a Yellow Fever and Typhoid vaccinations. (Typhoid is a series of pills - not a shot.) We may also need a Polio and MMR booster and there is a slight possibility that we will need a meningitis vaccine. My arm hurts just thinking about it.
If you are planning a mission trip, the best source of info about which vaccines you need is the CDC website. From the home page, click on Traveler's Health, then Destinations. Countries are listed in alphabetical order. You can also search for a list of Travel clinics in your area. The problem will be finding a provider which also happens to be on your insurance. Most local health departments also carry the vaccines. However, our health department was not much cheaper than the out-of-network provider and our insurance would only reimburse for 60% of either. (Compared to the price of a Dr.'s visit co-pay for an in-network provider.) Thankfully, after some hunting I did find a provider who offered the vaccines and was on our insurance.
The kids came with us and Abigail laughed the whole time I was getting my shots. I guess, for an eight-year-old, it was a bit of justice.
Autumn
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Hard To Be Humble - Support Letters
I mentioned in my last post that mission trips are expensive. More specifically, our mission trip will cost roughly $5200. In the past I assumed that we had to have that money in the bank before we could even consider going. After all, if God meant for us to go wouldn't he bless us with a nice fat savings account to fund our trip? Then I heard our pastor preach a sermon in which he mentioned that no one should let money be the only barrier.
Now I will be honest. That just does not make sense to my analytical, accountant brain, but I called the church missions office anyway. I found out that our church does have a scholarship program for mission trips. I'm sure Bellevue is not unique in this. I'm sure that many churches have similar programs. So start there.
However, my heart sank as I heard the words "up to half." Don't get me wrong. Up to half the cost of a trip is very generous and more than we would have any right to ask for; but we simply didn't, and still don't, have even half the cost. Some families could probably cut some extras and save up the money. We are not one of those families. I'll share more about that later.
That call to the church missions office was over a year ago. When William and Amanda join the mission team to Malawi (They arrived safely by the way. Please continue to pray for them.) I found out about support letters. For those of you who are unfamiliar with support letters, they are usually sent out by individuals who are either going into the mission field long-term or going on staff with a non-profit that can not afford to pay them. Turns out, support letters can be used to raise money for short-term mission trips as well. So now the financing was at least within the realm of possibility. Now just a few final hurdles - our pride and doubt.
I hate talking about money. Okay, really I just hate talking about OUR money. As a bookkeeper, I am used to discussing other people's money - other people's debt, other people's cash flow shortages. In my mind, there is only one thing worse than having to discuss our personal finances with someone and that is having to ask someone for money. Now I would likely have to do both. Over the past few years God has really hammered away, like a master blacksmith, at my prideful heart in this area of finances. He has given me a chance to see that while, in my sin nature, I would rather not depend on Him, He is more greatly glorified in my life when I do.
Remember when I said we were not one of those families that could come up with the money by cutting some extras. Trust me, we have looked. There are no savings accounts or college funds. We have one car. We live in a modest 1032 sq.ft. home but there is not enough equity to borrow against even if we could get a loan in this economy. We have a GoPhone that I load with $15 each month. We don't eat out. We stay home during Michael's vacations. Michael and I rarely exchange gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversary, Mother's/Father's day, etc. Our children do not participate in activities like sports, music lessons or dance (unless Grandma pays for them as a Christmas gift). They get three presents each at Christmas and for their birthdays they must choose between a family party at home with presents or a party with friends at one of the traditional birthday spots with NO presents. As a general rule, we don't buy convenience meals, snack foods, lunch meat or the expensive breakfast cereals. We recently had a garage sale and sold everything I could possibly scrounge up to pay for Michael's passport. If there is a penny to be pinched I have pinched it. In fact, I have dug sticky ones out of the car, washed them and rolled them. I am not complaining. I am very grateful for everything that we have and I know that compared to people in the inner city and most of the rest of the world we live very comfortably. I am sharing these details because I want you to feel assured that we tightened our budget before sending out support letters.
So I began to compose our letter and compile a list of family and friends. I picked up the forms from the church that needed to be mailed with each letter. I even had my mom take a family picture, so I could mail it with the letters. While doing these things my mind was filled with thoughts like - "The economy is terrible, no one will give." Or "People will view this trip as frivolous. No one will give." And "What can you really accomplish in 11 days. No one will give." I had to take these thoughts captive and remind myself that we are only responsible for obeying God. We were responsible for laying down our pride and sending the letters. God is responsible for what people do with them.
I mailed the letters Monday.
Autumn
Now I will be honest. That just does not make sense to my analytical, accountant brain, but I called the church missions office anyway. I found out that our church does have a scholarship program for mission trips. I'm sure Bellevue is not unique in this. I'm sure that many churches have similar programs. So start there.
However, my heart sank as I heard the words "up to half." Don't get me wrong. Up to half the cost of a trip is very generous and more than we would have any right to ask for; but we simply didn't, and still don't, have even half the cost. Some families could probably cut some extras and save up the money. We are not one of those families. I'll share more about that later.
That call to the church missions office was over a year ago. When William and Amanda join the mission team to Malawi (They arrived safely by the way. Please continue to pray for them.) I found out about support letters. For those of you who are unfamiliar with support letters, they are usually sent out by individuals who are either going into the mission field long-term or going on staff with a non-profit that can not afford to pay them. Turns out, support letters can be used to raise money for short-term mission trips as well. So now the financing was at least within the realm of possibility. Now just a few final hurdles - our pride and doubt.
I hate talking about money. Okay, really I just hate talking about OUR money. As a bookkeeper, I am used to discussing other people's money - other people's debt, other people's cash flow shortages. In my mind, there is only one thing worse than having to discuss our personal finances with someone and that is having to ask someone for money. Now I would likely have to do both. Over the past few years God has really hammered away, like a master blacksmith, at my prideful heart in this area of finances. He has given me a chance to see that while, in my sin nature, I would rather not depend on Him, He is more greatly glorified in my life when I do.
Remember when I said we were not one of those families that could come up with the money by cutting some extras. Trust me, we have looked. There are no savings accounts or college funds. We have one car. We live in a modest 1032 sq.ft. home but there is not enough equity to borrow against even if we could get a loan in this economy. We have a GoPhone that I load with $15 each month. We don't eat out. We stay home during Michael's vacations. Michael and I rarely exchange gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversary, Mother's/Father's day, etc. Our children do not participate in activities like sports, music lessons or dance (unless Grandma pays for them as a Christmas gift). They get three presents each at Christmas and for their birthdays they must choose between a family party at home with presents or a party with friends at one of the traditional birthday spots with NO presents. As a general rule, we don't buy convenience meals, snack foods, lunch meat or the expensive breakfast cereals. We recently had a garage sale and sold everything I could possibly scrounge up to pay for Michael's passport. If there is a penny to be pinched I have pinched it. In fact, I have dug sticky ones out of the car, washed them and rolled them. I am not complaining. I am very grateful for everything that we have and I know that compared to people in the inner city and most of the rest of the world we live very comfortably. I am sharing these details because I want you to feel assured that we tightened our budget before sending out support letters.
So I began to compose our letter and compile a list of family and friends. I picked up the forms from the church that needed to be mailed with each letter. I even had my mom take a family picture, so I could mail it with the letters. While doing these things my mind was filled with thoughts like - "The economy is terrible, no one will give." Or "People will view this trip as frivolous. No one will give." And "What can you really accomplish in 11 days. No one will give." I had to take these thoughts captive and remind myself that we are only responsible for obeying God. We were responsible for laying down our pride and sending the letters. God is responsible for what people do with them.
I mailed the letters Monday.
Autumn
Monday, August 16, 2010
Boldness and Obedience
As I said in my last post, a mission trip has been in my heart and on my mind for awhile. The problem is, I get so busy in the details of everyday life that I rarely stop to consider...Well, to be honest, I rarely stop to consider beyond dinners, lesson plans, laundry, etc. Money was another issue. Most mission trips run from $1200 - $3200. We have already cut most luxuries out of our budget to allow me to homeschool the kids. Where would we get the money? Anyway, every once in a great while I would pause and look around at my life and wonder if I was living out all that God had planned for me. But then I would settle back into my usual routine. I have stepped out in boldness in a few ways. Michael and I started a backyard Bible club for the kids in our neighborhood. My sister-in-law, Mandy, and I had begun to discuss helping a small church in Arkansas do a VBS. Both these felt like steps in the right direction but somehow I felt like God was saying, "Your getting warmer, but you don't quite have it."
Last spring there was a post on the forum of the homeschool support group I belong to. (Yes, we homeschool our three children. No, I do not worry that they will not be properly socialized :) ) Anyway, the post was about some bead necklaces being made by a group of women in Uganda. It contained a link to the blog of a young woman from Tennessee who moved to Uganda. Her story is amazing! (See the links section to the right to find her blog.) But it got me to thinking. The basic difference between me and her is boldness and obedience.
Shortly after this I learned that an acquaintance from the homeschool group was raising money to adopt 2 kids from Ethiopia. She and her husband have four kids. They are a family of six who can't wait to be eight but international adoption is expensive. I marvelled at their persistence and determination. I was impressed by their humility as they did several creative fundraisers.(I will post their link soon.) But it got me to thinking. The basic difference between us and them is boldness and obedience.
Then my sister and brother-in-law started reading Radical by David Platt. (That's who told be about it.) A month later they were signed up for a mission trip to Malawi. I was excited for them and a little jealous. But then I started thinking. The only difference.....You guessed it! Boldness and obedience.
Psalm 138:3 says "When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted." I can tell you that God has been as faithful to supply us with boldness as he was to King David. Michael and I went to one other mission meeting before the Kenya meeting. As we began to tell God we were willing to consider a mission trip, He began to remind us in more and more ways that all things are possible with Him.
William and Amanda left for Malawi this morning at 4:00 am. At around 4:00 this afternoon, after several state-side connections, they were about to begin their 17 hour flight to Africa. I am keeping my niece and nephew for the first 4 days of the 13 days they will be gone. I am so glad I get to be part of their support team. They will be working with Malawi Children's Mission (link to the right). I am so grateful for their example of obedience. Obedience when it's not easy; and even when they are not feeling so bold. Please pray that God will keep them safe.
Last spring there was a post on the forum of the homeschool support group I belong to. (Yes, we homeschool our three children. No, I do not worry that they will not be properly socialized :) ) Anyway, the post was about some bead necklaces being made by a group of women in Uganda. It contained a link to the blog of a young woman from Tennessee who moved to Uganda. Her story is amazing! (See the links section to the right to find her blog.) But it got me to thinking. The basic difference between me and her is boldness and obedience.
Shortly after this I learned that an acquaintance from the homeschool group was raising money to adopt 2 kids from Ethiopia. She and her husband have four kids. They are a family of six who can't wait to be eight but international adoption is expensive. I marvelled at their persistence and determination. I was impressed by their humility as they did several creative fundraisers.(I will post their link soon.) But it got me to thinking. The basic difference between us and them is boldness and obedience.
Then my sister and brother-in-law started reading Radical by David Platt. (That's who told be about it.) A month later they were signed up for a mission trip to Malawi. I was excited for them and a little jealous. But then I started thinking. The only difference.....You guessed it! Boldness and obedience.
Psalm 138:3 says "When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted." I can tell you that God has been as faithful to supply us with boldness as he was to King David. Michael and I went to one other mission meeting before the Kenya meeting. As we began to tell God we were willing to consider a mission trip, He began to remind us in more and more ways that all things are possible with Him.
William and Amanda left for Malawi this morning at 4:00 am. At around 4:00 this afternoon, after several state-side connections, they were about to begin their 17 hour flight to Africa. I am keeping my niece and nephew for the first 4 days of the 13 days they will be gone. I am so glad I get to be part of their support team. They will be working with Malawi Children's Mission (link to the right). I am so grateful for their example of obedience. Obedience when it's not easy; and even when they are not feeling so bold. Please pray that God will keep them safe.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Beginning of an Adventure
For several years now I have been drawn to the idea of a short term missions project. It is one of those things that just kept coming back to mind. Until now it has been just another one of my grand daydreams. Then the Lord used a book, a blog and the daring obedience of some friends and family to inspire me to action.
Okay, truthfully the book is better described as - challenging. If you've read Radical by David Platt you will understand what I mean. I will post more about the blog and the obedient friends and family later.
Anyway, we started checking into upcoming short-term mission projects at our church and Kenya came up. I submitted our applications this past Thursday. We have to raise the money for our deposit by September 19th but once we do that we will officially be on the team.
I am new to blogging. Our lives, this project, our story is really very ... - ordinary. But I'm hopping that sharing this process with you will help other ordinary people think outside of their "box" - and their continent, and their hemisphere, and ...Well you get the idea.
Autumn
Okay, truthfully the book is better described as - challenging. If you've read Radical by David Platt you will understand what I mean. I will post more about the blog and the obedient friends and family later.
Anyway, we started checking into upcoming short-term mission projects at our church and Kenya came up. I submitted our applications this past Thursday. We have to raise the money for our deposit by September 19th but once we do that we will officially be on the team.
I am new to blogging. Our lives, this project, our story is really very ... - ordinary. But I'm hopping that sharing this process with you will help other ordinary people think outside of their "box" - and their continent, and their hemisphere, and ...Well you get the idea.
Autumn
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