So, there is something very important that we have not really discussed...
Almost everything we have talked about for the last 10 months has been about our monthly budget. Just to recap, our monthly budget provides our money to work with, money for the boys to attend a school that aligns with the US college and high school system, money for insurance, gasoline, housing, and our salary. This money comes to us every month from churches here in the US, and individuals just like you! Our monthly budget is about the same amount that it takes to operate a small church for a month, and has been our main focus over the last 10 months of our fundraising. We are getting VERY close to having monthly commitments for 100% of our monthly budget (but we could still use your help!), and we hope to be done in time to join the next session of language school that begins on May 7.
But, we have another budget that we rarely talk about....
We have a cash budget that we also need to raise before we can leave! This cash budget covers the cost of language school, plane tickets for the 5 of us to get to Central America, utility deposits (which are VERY high when you are not a resident of your host country), and a few other miscellaneous items that are one-time purchases. We haven't talked about it becuase generally, this budget takes care of itself.
As we travel, any excess money that comes in from our Sunday services goes toward this cash budget. Also, any excess in what is being sent in monthly goes towards this cash amount (we live on less here than we will in Honduras, mostly because of schooling for the boys and we have no work budget... so there should be excess). So, for most missionaries, this cash budget naturally acccrues as they fundraise... But we are not most missionaries!
Our situation is quite unique when it comes to being an Assemblies of God World Missionary. The many apects of this uniqueness would take WAY to long for me to even highlight, but let me say it simply: The same unique situation that has lead to us raising our monthly budget faster than normal, is also contributing to our cash budget moving slower than normal (it mostly has to do with the fact that we often must travel great distances, and our Sunday offerings generally only cover those expenses, so we have very little surplus).
Let me give it to you in black and white... We need $45,000.00 in cash before we can leave (in addition to the amount that comes in monthly). This is a pretty standard amount for a first-term missionary. Right now, we only have $4,000.00-$5,000.00. I guess what I'm saying is: We need a miracle!
Allow me to quickly tell you about a miracle that I had the opportunity to be on the giving-end of:
When we were pastoring, we met a missionary named Larryon Truman that was building churches in Panama. When I heard him talk about how it only took $5,000.00 to build a church there, I decided we needed to help him. I invited Larryon to speak at our church a few months down the road, and started praying for a miracle. I told my wife that our church (Mt Calvary Family Worship Center- West Valley City, UT) was going to receive an offering of $5,000.00 in one day so that we could help build a church in Panama.... She thought I was crazy!! Our church had only given a total of $7,000.00 to missions the previous year, and we often struggled just meeting the church's budget each month. I told her that I probably was crazy, but that I had heard from God on this, and we were going to do it!
I asked our church to prepare to give an offering on a Sunday that was about 3 weeks away. I asked if we could get 100 people to give $50 in that offering, so we could give $5,000.00 to build a church in Panama. The people were very excited!! None of us was rich, but we could probably figure out a way to part with $50, so we got started.
That Sunday, after our first service, I had a man ask if he could give that day instead of waiting for 3 weeks. I told him that was fine, and he handed me a check for $5,000.00!!! I was truly speechless (which is a whole different miracle)!! We already had $5,000.00 and I hadn't even told our second service about the project!
Before church the next Sunday, a lady came to me asking if she could give in the Panama offering that day instead of waiting. I said that was fine, and she handed me an envelope with $5,000.00 cash in it!!! God was doing something very special, and to say that the church was excited is a serious understatement!
The offering day came, and MORE than $5,000.00 came in that day from people who just did what they could!!! No huge amounts, just everyone doing their part.
The next Sunday, Larryon was coming to speak to us in the evening, and I was recapping the story for the congregation, and telling them to come to church that night, because Larryon had no idea that any of this was happening. At the end of the morning service, I found out that a man that only came to our church that one time, wrote another check for $3,000.00!!! When Larryon came that evening, we were able to write him a HUGE check, and invest into what he was doing in Panama. When all the dust settled, just a few people who had done what they could to help, had given over $22,000.00!!!! $5,000.00 had sounded crazy, but $22,000.00 was breathtaking...
Right now, we are looking at a $40,000 need, and it is intimidating... Thankfully, we serve a God who has proven Himself many times! It is fun to be on the giving-end of a miracle, but very humbling to need to be on the receiving-end...
Would you help us pray for this miracle? Would you even consider giving a one-time gift to help us? We are passionate about reaching at-risk children in Honduras, but this is a HUGE obstacle in our way. Would you consider helping us remove one piece of this roadblock? We are praying for a miracle of cooperation and provision, and we thank you for considering it!! If you'd like to give, email me at andy@smithmissions.net, and we will figure out the best way for you to get funds to our account. If you can't give, PRAY!! I have a feeling God is about to do something crazy!!
(On a side note, I am constantly thankful that God came through on our Panama offering, because it makes it WAY easier for me to win similar discussions with Jen now!! Haha!!)
Thank you for your prayer and supprt! Thank you for helping us believe for a miracle!! Thank you for being a blessing!!!
