A Invitation to Pray
Join Us in Lifting up Our Ministry’s Financial Needs to the Father
Back in February we gave you an update about the financial status of our ministry; today we want to update you again and invite you to join us in praying about those needs. For the last two weeks, we have devoted ourselves to prayer and we would like for you to take three days to join us in this. We are asking that on May 6, 7, and 8 that you join us in fervent prayer about our ministry and financial needs.
Here is an update about the financial status of our ministry: We moved to Vanuatu last August with 90% of our 2014 budget in committed support. So far we have been able to make it on this amount, but that won’t be possible as time goes on. Although we tried our best to estimate, we didn’t realize how high the cost of living here in Vanuatu would be. Due to the ACA, our monthly health insurance costs have increased by 41% this year alone for a total increase of about 500% from what we were paying just two years ago. Soon, we will have a 4th member of our family, increasing our monthly expenditures slightly. Also for 2015 we needed to add to our budget the cost of traveling to Pentecost to meet the cultural obligations of visiting with the family who adopted us and also travel costs for Craig to visit and tutor/encourage VISTA students in-between modules. With these increases in our budget needs also come increases in income taxes and in the amount of funds that go to Pioneer Bible Translators [14% of all donations go to Pioneer Bible Translators, 5% for administrative costs, 5% for the development of new fields (which is how the Vanuatu project got started!), and 4% goes to Team Funds here in Vanuatu]. All of these things together have resulted in a budget increase of about $2500 per month for 2015 over 2014.
We also have some one-time needs this year relating to the upcoming birth of baby #2. Due to lack of adequate medical care and an embassy or consulate at which to acquire a passport for the new baby, we are unable to have the baby here in Vanuatu. We will be returning to the US from June 13-August 30 for the birth of the baby and to acquire a passport for him/her. For this trip we will need round trip tickets for all three of us ($7200) as well as a ticket for the baby ($400) to come back to Vanuatu. We also anticipate approximately $4000 in medical bills ($3000 for our deductible and $1000 for anything above the deductible which we would have to pay at a 70/30 split with the insurance company). During our time in the US our insurance premiums will be significantly higher (we get a discount during our time overseas which will not be in effect while we are home). In addition we anticipate about $2000 in additional travel expenses, baby equipment and luggage fees for our trip.
Also as we mentioned in February, a mistake made by our tax preparer back in 2012 resulted in a tax debt of $3000 due immediately and an accounting error within our organization resulted in our ministry account balance being $3200 lower than what the ledger had been showing. We have weathered these setbacks so far but they have depleted the financial “safety net” that we normally maintain for emergencies or unexpected expenses.
Already God has begun to answer our prayers and meet these needs! We have already had a few new partners join our ministry and we have received several one-time gifts toward the cost of travel for the birth of the baby. A family and a church have already committed funds to pay for our 3 round-trip plane tickets!
As we continue to weather the financial storms and inexperience of our first term overseas, we would like to ask you to join us in 3 days of focused prayer for the financial needs of our ministry. On May 6, 7, and 8 we would like you to join us in prayer about these things, and we have a specific focus for each day.
May 6: Praise God for the way he has provided for us so far.
May 7: Pray that God will give us financial peace and remind us that he is always in control no matter what happens.
May 8: Ask God to provide for these financial needs through one-time gifts and increased monthly commitments.
The evening before each day of prayer, we will send out a prayer update with some details and specific points about how you can join us in praying. We would like to ask you take just a few minutes out of your day to join us in lifting these needs up to the father.
Thank you so much for all the prayers you already lift up for us and our ministry. We could not do this without you. We are so glad to be the hands and feet supported by YOU, the body of Christ, as we work together to bring God’s word to the people of Vanuatu! We look forward to praying together with you about these needs.
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