I don't know how many plans I've actually had that weren't going to work out, but I think I may have settled on one that might work. Finally.
I got in contact with the woman who owns the school that I can work at. I'll be talking to her about pay, what the classes look like, and what will be expected of me. The school normally provides housing for teachers, and therefore pays them $250/month. However, my current plan is to live with the missionaries, so they suggested I ask for more since they won't have to cover my living cost.
That would make my budget (without support) look like this:
income + 250 (teaching)
expenses - 150 (living)
- 50 (food)
- 20 (phone)
That leaves me with $30 per month that would probably go to transportation to and from work and I'd have no money leftover for any mission work.
But, if I live at the school, that leaves me with $200/month that I won't be spending on living expenses, and I wouldn't have to worry as much about the amount of support I have to raise. I definitely still want to raise support from friends and family, because I don't know what random extra expenses are going to show up.
So, I'll have to think about this...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Some Plans/Ideas
So, since my breakdown in my cabin, I've been doing fine. I bounce back pretty quickly. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do, and I still feel a little lost, but I'm not worried about it now. I've got a few ideas and things that I think might work, but mostly I'm waiting on the Lord to direct me and praying that He guide me in the plan that He has to provide for me.
Idea 1: Work
When reading through the epistles of Paul, I found something that he says in several of them. While he was planting and then growing the churches in several different cities, he worked among them so that he didn't become a burden for them. (II Thessalonians 2:9)
So, what entered my mind here is that it might be better for me to find some work down there with which I could help to support myself. I talked to Shari, and she said as an English teacher, I would make about $300/month, which is not enough by my estimation. That would probably barely cover living expenses, and I wouldn't have enough left over to do any actual mission work, so I'd still need support from individuals or a church.
Idea 2: Other Church(es)
My initial plan was to go to Grace to get some funding, and also ask for friends and family members to help me out, and that would have probably been the easiest way to go. But I always tell people that nothing easy is worth doing, so maybe I should listen to myself. :) So, I'm thinking of approaching some other churches for support.
Perhaps the church my dad grew up in where much of my extended family goes and my mom works might be willing to help, but I have a feeling they have some policies in place that might be similar to Grace that would prevent me from being supported there.
There's also the church I attend now. I don't have many connections, and have only been attending for a couple of years, and not very frequently because I work a lot of weekends. They're really into missions and outreach, so it wouldn't hurt to ask.
Idea 3: Grace
I'm still really set on working with Grace, because I've gone there my whole life. So, I'm thinking if I did get under a mission board somehow, and got my own funding from friends and family, they might act as a funnel for funds for me, accepting donations on my behalf and forwarding them to me. This is something my dad is willing to do for me, but I'd rather go through a church so supporters can get tax deductions, and it's way more legit that way, people won't feel like they're funding my hanging out in Honduras when it's going through a church. There's more accountability, I guess, is what I'm saying. And I'd prefer that.
Idea 4: Win the Lotto
Ok, so I'm not serious about this one, and have never played the lotto in my life, but it's something I joke about frequently and so I thought I'd throw it in here anyway.
Idea 5: Work Online
I've found a few websites where I can work online, and make some money, but most of them take a lot of time for not a lot of pay, and are more like paid boredom busters, where I find answers to questions, or locate restaurant information on web pages.
I've also found a couple of freelance sites, where I can try to find work as a freelancer. I've "applied" for a couple of the writing jobs there that I thought I could do, but I'm competing against people who have masters in English and have made thousands on there, and have a high standing on the website, and pay to have their offers on the jobs put higher on the list. So, I haven't had any luck there yet. It's hard to break onto the scene of something like that when my resume is basically "I like to write, I'm good at it, and I've got good grammar, but I've never been published." People don't generally get too excited about someone like that.
Anyway, if I get more diligent and look at some other sites and try looking into some other ideas from the "101 ways to make money online" article I found, maybe I'll find something where I can actually make some money to where I can support myself, by making my own hours, and I won't have to worry about getting to/from a job there in Honduras, or making enough. It's something I'll have to look into some more for sure. If only Honduras had a craigslist...
So, that's about it for ideas. I guess my only real options are: work to fully support self, work to partially support self while accepting donations, and be fully supported by donations. More than likely, I'll have to get support, so I guess I'll go back to working on my support letter.
Idea 1: Work
When reading through the epistles of Paul, I found something that he says in several of them. While he was planting and then growing the churches in several different cities, he worked among them so that he didn't become a burden for them. (II Thessalonians 2:9)
So, what entered my mind here is that it might be better for me to find some work down there with which I could help to support myself. I talked to Shari, and she said as an English teacher, I would make about $300/month, which is not enough by my estimation. That would probably barely cover living expenses, and I wouldn't have enough left over to do any actual mission work, so I'd still need support from individuals or a church.
Idea 2: Other Church(es)
My initial plan was to go to Grace to get some funding, and also ask for friends and family members to help me out, and that would have probably been the easiest way to go. But I always tell people that nothing easy is worth doing, so maybe I should listen to myself. :) So, I'm thinking of approaching some other churches for support.
Perhaps the church my dad grew up in where much of my extended family goes and my mom works might be willing to help, but I have a feeling they have some policies in place that might be similar to Grace that would prevent me from being supported there.
There's also the church I attend now. I don't have many connections, and have only been attending for a couple of years, and not very frequently because I work a lot of weekends. They're really into missions and outreach, so it wouldn't hurt to ask.
Idea 3: Grace
I'm still really set on working with Grace, because I've gone there my whole life. So, I'm thinking if I did get under a mission board somehow, and got my own funding from friends and family, they might act as a funnel for funds for me, accepting donations on my behalf and forwarding them to me. This is something my dad is willing to do for me, but I'd rather go through a church so supporters can get tax deductions, and it's way more legit that way, people won't feel like they're funding my hanging out in Honduras when it's going through a church. There's more accountability, I guess, is what I'm saying. And I'd prefer that.
Idea 4: Win the Lotto
Ok, so I'm not serious about this one, and have never played the lotto in my life, but it's something I joke about frequently and so I thought I'd throw it in here anyway.
Idea 5: Work Online
I've found a few websites where I can work online, and make some money, but most of them take a lot of time for not a lot of pay, and are more like paid boredom busters, where I find answers to questions, or locate restaurant information on web pages.
I've also found a couple of freelance sites, where I can try to find work as a freelancer. I've "applied" for a couple of the writing jobs there that I thought I could do, but I'm competing against people who have masters in English and have made thousands on there, and have a high standing on the website, and pay to have their offers on the jobs put higher on the list. So, I haven't had any luck there yet. It's hard to break onto the scene of something like that when my resume is basically "I like to write, I'm good at it, and I've got good grammar, but I've never been published." People don't generally get too excited about someone like that.
Anyway, if I get more diligent and look at some other sites and try looking into some other ideas from the "101 ways to make money online" article I found, maybe I'll find something where I can actually make some money to where I can support myself, by making my own hours, and I won't have to worry about getting to/from a job there in Honduras, or making enough. It's something I'll have to look into some more for sure. If only Honduras had a craigslist...
So, that's about it for ideas. I guess my only real options are: work to fully support self, work to partially support self while accepting donations, and be fully supported by donations. More than likely, I'll have to get support, so I guess I'll go back to working on my support letter.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Results of the Mission Board Meeting
So, here's an update. Sorry about being so long in posting this. Things have been crazy, and I'm not yet in the habit of updating a blog.
I got in contact with the mission board at my church, asking for support, and they had me submit information: my calling, the ministry I would do, and whatever else I thought I should include, like a resume. So, I typed up a 6-page paper that covered my spiritual journey, my current calling, any my job and volunteer history. I had one of the full-time staff members here edit it for me, which she did an excellent job on, and sent it to them. This was the beginning of February. I got an email in return saying that they'd be discussing me "later this month."
So, at the end of February when I still hadn't heard back from them, I sent the head of the board an email asking when they were meeting, to make sure I hadn't been forgotten. Then, I went into one of the worst weekends I'd had in a long time. Friday was just stressful in general because I had way more going on than normal, and therefore had no time to relax, and I got several things dumped on me at the last minute. Then I crashed my car into a snowbank, and that's when I started crying. :)
On Saturday evening, I was watching the movie with my cabin of campers that I was counseling for the weekend, and I got a call. Although I didn't have the number in my phone, I knew that I was supposed to know it, so I hurried back into the kitchen to answer it. It was the head of the mission board, telling me that they weren't able to support me.
There were a couple reasons for this. The main one is simply that they have a policy that anyone they support must be under a mission board somewhere. Also, they don't have much room in the budget, and aren't looking to do any mission work in Honduras. I thanked him for his time and for looking at me, and he was very encouraging, reminding me that God's will happens no matter what, and that he'd keep me in his prayers. I thought I was ok, because I saw it as no big deal. Then I hung up the phone and started crying.
I pulled myself together quickly and returned to my cabin, looking after my 11 girls. That night, in the darkness and silence, all my fears crashed down, and I wept quietly on my bunk, careful to not alert any of the girls that I was crying. I felt lost, and no longer knew what I was supposed to do. Eventually, my exhaustion took over and I fell asleep.
I got in contact with the mission board at my church, asking for support, and they had me submit information: my calling, the ministry I would do, and whatever else I thought I should include, like a resume. So, I typed up a 6-page paper that covered my spiritual journey, my current calling, any my job and volunteer history. I had one of the full-time staff members here edit it for me, which she did an excellent job on, and sent it to them. This was the beginning of February. I got an email in return saying that they'd be discussing me "later this month."
So, at the end of February when I still hadn't heard back from them, I sent the head of the board an email asking when they were meeting, to make sure I hadn't been forgotten. Then, I went into one of the worst weekends I'd had in a long time. Friday was just stressful in general because I had way more going on than normal, and therefore had no time to relax, and I got several things dumped on me at the last minute. Then I crashed my car into a snowbank, and that's when I started crying. :)
On Saturday evening, I was watching the movie with my cabin of campers that I was counseling for the weekend, and I got a call. Although I didn't have the number in my phone, I knew that I was supposed to know it, so I hurried back into the kitchen to answer it. It was the head of the mission board, telling me that they weren't able to support me.
There were a couple reasons for this. The main one is simply that they have a policy that anyone they support must be under a mission board somewhere. Also, they don't have much room in the budget, and aren't looking to do any mission work in Honduras. I thanked him for his time and for looking at me, and he was very encouraging, reminding me that God's will happens no matter what, and that he'd keep me in his prayers. I thought I was ok, because I saw it as no big deal. Then I hung up the phone and started crying.
I pulled myself together quickly and returned to my cabin, looking after my 11 girls. That night, in the darkness and silence, all my fears crashed down, and I wept quietly on my bunk, careful to not alert any of the girls that I was crying. I felt lost, and no longer knew what I was supposed to do. Eventually, my exhaustion took over and I fell asleep.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Genesis
This is the beginning of my blog. I'll be posting updates here as to what I'm up to and such.
For the last couple of years, as I grew closer to God, my heart began to break for the things that God's heart breaks for. Specifically for me, it was hungry children and brokenness. I prayed continuously to get more of God's heart, and also to find a way to do something for the things I cried for.
I'm currently finishing up a two-year discipleship program at Wildwood Ranch. One of the focuses of the program is community. To make that community happen, the other interns and I would go places and just sit and talk about our lives. I was complaining a few months ago that I didn't know where I'd be going after the internship, and my roommate blurts out, "Melody, get out of the country! You know your heart breaks for kids in other countries, so don't sit here and say you don't know what to do after this. Go out and go after what's breaking your heart."
She was totally right. That night, we went to a women's service at the Freedom Center, the church I attend up here. As they talked about orphans and being loved by God, all I could think about were the orphans I'd met in Honduras and the brokenness that was there. The next time we had our intern talks, I said, "I think God's calling me to Honduras."
For a while, I wasn't sure what exactly that meant, or what to do with such information. One day, I finally sat down to write it out and figure out precisely what God wanted me to do in Honduras. As I started writing what I knew, the truth of what He had called me to poured out onto the paper. He was calling me to bring restoration to Casita.
Casita is a girl's orphanage that mainly houses teenagers, and there is such a hopelessness there that you can almost feel it when you walk in. Many of the girls are there simply because they weren't wanted, and others ran away from abusive situations and lived on the streets, selling themselves, before they were picked up and brought there.
After some discussions with the director, I went to Terry and Shari, the missionaries I'd stayed with on my two trips down who are old family friends, and told them exactly what God had called me to. They agreed to let me stay with them, and gave me some helpful hints on forming a budget and getting around in the city when they're not able to drive me. They also had a meeting with the director of Casita about allowing me to help out, and the director is excited to have me come.
So, that's how I came to be in the position I'm in now. I've got some exciting things going on with the mission board at my home church, Grace Community, but I'll save that information for another post.
Thanks for reading! May God bless you as you follow Him!
-Melody Joy
For the last couple of years, as I grew closer to God, my heart began to break for the things that God's heart breaks for. Specifically for me, it was hungry children and brokenness. I prayed continuously to get more of God's heart, and also to find a way to do something for the things I cried for.
I'm currently finishing up a two-year discipleship program at Wildwood Ranch. One of the focuses of the program is community. To make that community happen, the other interns and I would go places and just sit and talk about our lives. I was complaining a few months ago that I didn't know where I'd be going after the internship, and my roommate blurts out, "Melody, get out of the country! You know your heart breaks for kids in other countries, so don't sit here and say you don't know what to do after this. Go out and go after what's breaking your heart."
She was totally right. That night, we went to a women's service at the Freedom Center, the church I attend up here. As they talked about orphans and being loved by God, all I could think about were the orphans I'd met in Honduras and the brokenness that was there. The next time we had our intern talks, I said, "I think God's calling me to Honduras."
For a while, I wasn't sure what exactly that meant, or what to do with such information. One day, I finally sat down to write it out and figure out precisely what God wanted me to do in Honduras. As I started writing what I knew, the truth of what He had called me to poured out onto the paper. He was calling me to bring restoration to Casita.
Casita is a girl's orphanage that mainly houses teenagers, and there is such a hopelessness there that you can almost feel it when you walk in. Many of the girls are there simply because they weren't wanted, and others ran away from abusive situations and lived on the streets, selling themselves, before they were picked up and brought there.
After some discussions with the director, I went to Terry and Shari, the missionaries I'd stayed with on my two trips down who are old family friends, and told them exactly what God had called me to. They agreed to let me stay with them, and gave me some helpful hints on forming a budget and getting around in the city when they're not able to drive me. They also had a meeting with the director of Casita about allowing me to help out, and the director is excited to have me come.
So, that's how I came to be in the position I'm in now. I've got some exciting things going on with the mission board at my home church, Grace Community, but I'll save that information for another post.
Thanks for reading! May God bless you as you follow Him!
-Melody Joy
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