Feeling Blesssed

In November of 2006, we went to Orlando for two weeks of training. It was an amazing two weeks with people with the same heart as us. We were all brand new and were about jump into the world of full-time support raising. There are very few people who have raised support to be in full time missions who wouldn't tell you that it wasn't one of the most difficult things they had done. (Does that sentence make sense? Basically, I'm saying that most people thinks it's hard work!) We made a lot of friends at camp that we still keep in contact with. We are now spread all over the world but we keep each other on our newsletter lists. I'm not sure if other agency's have this policy, but we are only given two years to get to 100% support of the monthly financial needs once we finish training camp. It took us about a year and 9 months to get to about 100%. It's been nine months since we started and most of the people we knew at camp also have taken their assignments. But this week we got a newsletter from a family from training camp. We remember them well because they were one of the few other family's that had kids and we sat at the same table together. Sadly, their newsletter said that after 2 1/2 years of support raising, they would be resigning as members. They have spent the last 30+ months traveling all over the US (practically living in their car) speaking at churches, schools, small groups, etc., to share their heart for Bible translation. But even with all of that work, they were not able to raise the finances they needed. The number of people going into full time missions are declining each year. It really gets to me that a wonderful family who gave up everything they had to serve aren't able to because they can't get the small amount of money they need to live - live in a cheaper foreign country at that. The 21 months we spent raising support were difficult. Yes, we were blessed in so many ways and got to see God work beyond what we could ever imagine, but it wasn't easy. And I can't imagine having done it for another 9 months and then not even be able to take our assignment. So today I've feeling overwhelming blessed. I already did, knowing how many wonderful people we have as a part of our ministry who make it possible for us to be here. But on days like this I can't stop praising God for our beautiful team of supporters who pray and provide for us. I think of each church and individual and am amazed how God brought each one of them into our lives. And I'm praying for our friends. They realize that this is obviously not the plan that God has for them, but it's still difficult. And I'm praying for missions. In Damien's office alone (about 25 people) one guy recently had to leave because his support was so low for so long. And there are two more people in his office who are dangerously close to having to quit because they have less than 60% or more of their monthly needs and won't be able to make it much longer on their savings. His office is already incredibly short staffed. In his particular area he has about 6 people working on a project that in the commercial world would probably have 50 - seriously. So we're praying not only that God brings more workers, but also that those who are already serving can continue.