Gentle Teaching

Thirty-seven percent. That is where our account sits at this point.

I punch these numbers in the calculator on my phone multiple times a week. On days that the first numbers goes up- I punch them in over and over. Amazed at how the result changes.
When nothing changes for a couple of weeks my mood changes. I become frustrated. I wonder where the disconnect is.
Why isn't anything coming in?
Is it something I am saying during "the ask?"
Are we not making our purpose clear enough?
Do we need to change something?
Take a new approach?
Why isn't the money coming in?!

I wonder these things and I pray. I pray that God will send us to the right people at the right time. But I don't often stop to think that- maybe the right time hasn't come yet.
Maybe the right person isn't ready yet.
Maybe we aren't ready yet.

I really did think that we would be further along than 37% by now. I really hoped we would be at least half way. Maybe closer.
But we aren't. Here we sit- at 37% funded. Looking forward to Jeremy's last month of work. Cross-training and the potential of months without steady income.

I have started reading more out of Streams in the Desert. Because, well, it's appropriate and maybe a little cliche.
But, honestly, it couldn't be more encouraging.

I had not read out of the book in several days, so (I as sweated my way through 20 minutes on the elliptical),  I opened it up to May 22nd and I re-read the verse at the top.
Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. Psalm 37:5

I flipped tapped a couple of pages over on the Kindle...
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me. Psalm 57:2

May 23rd
They were at their wits' end. They they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. Psalm 107:27-28

May 27th
Bring them here to me. Matthew 14:18

To me the Lord said, "Bring what you have to me. That $1,851 you have in pledges? Give it up. Let me have it and do with it what I want. You don't have it all. But I do. They don't have it all. I've got it."

My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

"You hear that? I've got it. I am the the source. I am the means and the way in which to receive it. You can't do this on your own. Give. It. Up."

May 28th
I will not let you go unless you bless me. Genesis 32:26
Not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42

I will no longer work by my strength alone. I will not work against the time He has allowed to pass. I will find the joy in this preparation and be grateful for the gentle teaching He has given me.

You ask...We answer.

I have kept a running list of questions Jeremy and I have been asked while raising support. Most of the time we have a chance to answer them right then, but I know there are some people who may be wondering about these questions and have not had a chance to ask. So, here are some of the most asked questions with answers. If anyone has any other questions, please feel free to contact Jeremy or me and we would love to talk with you!

When do you plan to leave?
Our goal departure date is September 2013. This is completely dependant on our funding. Jeremy has resigned from his job and will leave on June 30th. The school has already begun the process of hiring his replacement, so this is definitely happening! I say that our departure date is completely dependant on our funding, that means we cannot leave unless we are 100% funded.
OMS holds cross training in January and July of each year. We need to be at July Cross-Training in order to meet our goal. That means we must be at least 50% funded in June. But, obviously we want to be further along than that.

Where will you live?
Our first three months in Spain will be spent in Madrid (the capital). During this time our only assignment will be language learning. We will focus completely on language learning then so that the rest of our first term can be devoted to serving the people fully. We will mostly likely live with another missionary couple or with someone they know.
After the first three months we will move to another area near El Escorial. There we will have an apartment since will be our home during our time in Spain.

What exactly will you be doing?
It is difficult to explain exactly what we will be doing. I say this because, just as a pastor, or any other career minister, each day will look different than the next. Our end goal is to plant churches or house churches. We will be doing this by simply building relationships. In order to do this, part of my job will be teaching English classes. Jeremy will likely be working with a youth group that has already been formed. Our days will be filled with these activities along with team meetings, projects, planning events, and day-to-day activities.
The team that we will be working with has a goal to reach 25 different towns in an area northwest of Madrid. Everything that we do will be in an effort to meet this goal.

How long will you be there?
This is another question that is somewhat difficult to answer. Our first term with OMS is two years. After that time we will have six months of furlough. This will be a time when we come back to the States and visit family, supporters and possibly do more support raising if necessary. Following our furlough time we will return to Spain for at least 4 years.
At this time Jeremy and I do see our missionary status as a career. We do not see ourselves returning to the States to find another job or career anytime soon. Clearly, I say this knowing that God may have other plans for us after these first two years. But, at this time this is what He has revealed to us. Our time in Spain may just be the beginning. He may have another location in store for us or he may reveal something completely new. However, we are acting in boldness and confidence that Spain is His calling for us.

How will you make money? Will you have another job?
Our income is solely from our monthly faith promises. That means that as you respond to our presentations and calling with monthly faith promises- your funds are supporting the ministry that God has called us to. We will not have another job while in Spain. This is due not only to Visas but also because we want to dedicate as much time as possible to this ministry. We do not want to spread ourselves thin and not be able to give everything to this work.

Why do you have to raise SO MUCH money?
People have asked about the exact amount we must have pledged monthly. I sometimes hesitate to give the exact amount because I do not want you to be hung up on the number. However, the number is important. The people at OMS have carefully figured out just how much we will need each month to operate and function well as missionaries in this area.
Let me tell you that our salary is only a fraction of the total monthly pledges we need.
The best way I can think to explain our MSR (Missionary Support Requirement) is as if we were self-employed. Anyone who owns a small business can tell you that the money that comes in must not only cover your salary but also all of the business expenses that you will incur. Our monthly pledges cover much more than what comes into our bank account.

I hope this offers you a little more clarity about what we will be doing and also how you can be a part of this.

A Not So Weekly Update

I really did mean to post an update each week with just small happenings and events, but I haven't done that very well. We have been good at getting our newsletter out every month!

But here are a few things-
-Moving- Things are starting to clear out. Our apartment is still in the "disaster area"phase but we have sold a few more things. We are having a book sale at the school today to hopefully get rid of the massive number of books Jeremy and I have collected. I will at least start moving while Jeremy is in Florida next month.

- Yesterday we had three services at Crosslink EMC. Everyone was very receptive and encouraging. We received several new faith promises and one-time donations.

- I am finally getting started on my project for my internship. I'm hoping to have it completed by the end of February.

- In January's newsletter we proposed a 10/40 challenge- Ten people willing to commit $40/month. We still need a few people to step up to the plate! Would you consider accepting this challenge and becoming part of the ministry in Spain? If not $40/month, any monthly amount gets us closer to Spain!

-As of now, we are currently at 16% of our monthly pledges. We still have a ways to go, but God has been faithful and we know we will be fully funded in the perfect time.

-We are making calls to individuals and churches to set up appointments. Please, let us know if you have a church group that you would like us to visit. Or, if you personally would like to hear more about your part!

Three Things Thursday: Orientation, Church Visit & Newsletters

One: Orientation was great! We spent two days with eight other missionary candidates learning more about OMS and getting to know each other. Most of the time was spend going over our Birkman tests and discovering how our personalities will effect us in our ministry on and off the field.  It was  also interesting to see how Jeremy and I work together according to our results. While I tend to be a "let's go" leader, Jeremy is a "let's be careful." So, while I am pulling us ahead, Jeremy is making sure everything is done well. I guess we are a good complement for each other!
It was a great time to spend with each other and the other candidates as we continue to work on raising our support.

Two: We drove up to Salem EMC in Salem, VA early Sunday morning. The congregation  graciously welcomed us to share the story of our call to Spain. We are so thankful for those who gave and supported this ministry. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Orientation group with Dr. & Mrs. Wesley Duewel

Three: Newsletters! If you are interested in receiving our newsletter please click the page above to sign up! We hope to send these out regularly to keep everyone updated on our progress. We will keep an archive of past newsletters so that you can catch up if you missed anything! I promise not to spam you or send you an inordinate number of chain emails.

Our needs...His Glorious Riches

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

- Philippians 4:19-20

We are just in the beginning stages of fundraising for our ministry but already we are seeing how God is opening doors of opportunity. God is demonstrating His faithfulness as we begin to make calls and contact friends, family and churches to share our story and calling. 

He has already shown us how He will provide by giving us our very first monthly supporters last week. We had not even planned to present our story that night but because He is good, the opportunity was given. We sat across the table from a couple who had "adopted" us while Jeremy was  a youth pastor. They have consistently opened themselves up to us as friends and mentors. They are two of the most giving people I know and we are so grateful for the way they have promised to support this ministry. 

I have been sitting here filling in dates that have already been booked at churches I know and ones I don't. As I see our calender already filling up, I can't help but become overwhelmed. Not overwhelmed with stress or anxiety but with gratitude and thankfulness knowing that God has already prepared the hearts of those who will hear our story. 

Long before this calling was revealed to me or to Jeremy, God knew. He knew the needs we will have and the goals we will need to reach. He knows the exact dollar amount that we will need so that we can be on the field. As big this challenge as it may seem to us, God is bigger. He has a plan as to how we will meet this goal and He is making the way for us to meet it.  I have faith that the right people, at the right time will feel lead to support the ministry God called us be a part of. 

It has become clear to me how important it is for people to realize who they are really supporting when they pledge to our ministry. They are not giving money to us each month. They are not giving money to One Mission Society each month. No, instead the individuals, couples and families who will financially partner with us are giving to God. The money that we receive is a gift from God. You give to God and God gives to us. 

Thank you to those who are praying for us. Thank you to those who have supported us along the way. And thank you to those who will give to God as He gives to us in this ministry.We are blessed to be called to this specific ministry just as each Christian is blessed to be called to his or her own specific ministry.