Mutual Encouragement

Well there are about 10 hours left until Mom and I leave Canandaigua to begin our journey… our suitcases are still empty, and piles of things lay scattered around the house.  By a hope and a prayer we’ll be organized to go on time!

I’m writing you this update because I hope that you can be as encouraged as I am today…  two months ago I announced that we would be making this return trip and I made a feeble, doubt-filled request for financial support fully intending to be pouring money from my own pocket to fund this trip.  Well, with 10 hours to go, I have received $3,760.  I only asked for $3,500… you guys gave me too much! J 

I need to take a moment to boast about my home church, The United Church of Canandaigua.  Approximately 90% of this money has come from my home church family in one way or another… without skipping a beat, you quickly sent money and supported me with love, encouragement, and generosity.  Thank you for always being there for me, for supporting this ministry no matter what, and for praying for me without ceasing. 

As we do our last minute scrambling, I’m breathing with peace, anticipation, and JOY sustained by the Holy Spirit’s gentle reassurance.   He is already providing for every penny needed, plus some extra, so we can flexibly give as needs arise and comfortably function to meet our daily needs.  With every moment I spend lesson planning (2,000 years of Church History crammed into 2 weeks?!) I am finding a refreshing, life-giving motivation which comes only from doing what you love… and can’t wait to get back in the classroom with my students.

This trip is about mutual encouragement.  It is about people who love the same Lord coming together to learn more about him by serving him together, encouraging one another in our faith journeys through our various gifts and abilities, all for His glory.  I pray that today, and as you continue to share this journey, the Lord will give you your full share of this mutual encouragement!

I hope to send an update or two while we’re gone, but who knows what the internet will allow J

As we go, please pray for:

-Peace, rest, and energy

-Safety and health in body and spirit

-For divinely coordinated appointments… there are many people we would love to see who are scattered throughout the country, please pray these meetings happen!

-For mutual encouragement J

Greeting Cards for Sale!

Gift Giving!

A significant part of my budget for this trip will be going towards donations or gifts to my Zambian friends.  Some of this includes:

1-Financial support to my graduated friends who we will be visiting  (approx $150)

2- Financial support for the students who are about the graduate (A minimum of $200)

3- Gifts for Bible College leadership (Approx $50)

4- If I am able to exceed this amount, more money will be put towards women's projects, Bible College sustainability projects, a medical emergency fund, the PWBC pre-school, or other areas of need. 

I thought a fun way to raise this portion of my budget would be through selling Greeting Cards!

If you've ever given a donation to my ministry, you have likely received a hand-made thank you note made by these ladies :)  

The card project has unfortunately lost its stamina, however the ladies have agreed to resurrect it at least for the 2 weeks we are there!! 

This is a wonderful project which helps these women make money for their families, allowing them to gain financial independence and learn banking skills. 

The cards are simple, yet elegant and full of meaning. 

Maybe your church or ministry would like to purchase a bulk order and sell them to congregation members?

In the past we have made personalized cards!  These Thank You cards were made for my friend Emily and Chris's wedding, sent to all gift-givers and wedding-goers :)  

Do you have large amounts of thank you notes to write after graduation? or birthday? or wedding?

Are you a missionary who sends tons of thank you notes!?

  We can create a simple, personalized design just for you! 

There are a variety of our basic designs which include:

  A few Christmas designs

 Thank You notes with a variety of African animals  

Outline of Africa with "JOY" or "HOPE" in the middle

Each card is personally signed on the back by the woman who made it :) 

Price:  Each card costs $1.50

Envelope included

(From what I've seen on the shelves these days... this is a steal for a greeting card!) 

Where the money goes: 

 50 cents goes directly to the woman who made your card 

(This is the regular minimum wage for 1 hour of labor in Zambia) 

$1.00 will go towards my gift giving budget, primarily for graduation gifts.

Bulk Orders

50 cards = $65

100 cards = $120

(You may notice that the price has increased since before, from $1.00 to $1.50  This is because some of the money raised will buffer costs of paper products/envelopes, as well as shipping/handling.  The more you buy, the less production/shipping costs for me.  While still paying the ladies for their time and raising funds for other donations :) ) 

How to Order

1. Email me at Laureninzambia@gmail.com

2. In your email please specify the number of cards you would like and of which designs 

3. Your order could simply say "surprise me" and we'll send you a variety 

4. Please order ASAP! We depart in just 2.5 weeks!

5. Include the best address to ship the cards to, unless you live close by in NY or CA and I can hand deliver :) 

Don't want cards?

I am still looking for donations to help cover costs of this trip!  I have raised $2,100 so far!  In less than a month!!! Thank you all so much, and praise the Lord!!

  My budget is for about $2,800, so a significant portion of what is left to raise will determine how much I am able to give in the form of gifts or donations... so at this point, you can consider the money I am raising to be a direct donation to helping a Bible College student or pastor and their family :) 

Who gets these donations?

Some of the people who will be getting donations will include familiar names/faces such as:

Mrs. Mwaanga and her children, in light of the recent death of Mr. Mwaanga

Finebeck and baby Karen.  I hope to stock them up with a good supply of formula :)  Also, we will be in country when baby Karen turns 1 year old! Which is bittersweet, because it also marks 1 year since her mothers death.  

Soon to be graduates!!

And graduating wives! 

And their precious kiddos! 

And wonderful families like this one... baby David, the baby I helped deliver, is now 2.5 years old.  Auntie can't wait to see him and spoil him with a new outfit!! <3 

Status Update

With just 12 days standing between me and my New York home, and three weeks before our departure for Zambia, I thought I would give you a status update!

Financial status:  So far I have been given and/or promised a total of $1,465!!!!  WOW what a blessing this is!!  Thank you SO much to everyone who has given at this point.  This total of donations nearly covers my airfare, a huge chunk of the cost of the trip.  I am still hoping to raise about $1,400 more to help cover and buffer my out-of-pocket costs.  Any size donation is greatly appreciated!

Life status:  The next 12 days are going to prove to be stressful!  In general, my stress levels this quarter have been high, and I am looking forward to a break.  However, 2 big papers, 2 doctor’s appointments, 1 apartment move, and 5 nights of babysitting stand between me and home!  (Not to mention all of the planning details which are coming together for the trip... including creating curriculum to teach Church History!) I appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement as I get through this final push!

Zambia status:  It was announced yesterday a PWBC that mom and I will be coming to visit/teach.  There was apparently much jubilation at this news, which makes me that much more excited to go! There have already been some requests for donation items for teaching supplies such as printer ink, an item which is too expensive to buy in Zambia.  I also plan to give gifts/donations for the +/-10 students who will be graduating.  These types of gifts/donations will be out of pocket, so again, any financial help will go a long way in making this trip a blessing for everyone. 

Praise the Lord for:

                -Financial provision!!

                -My roommate and I are nailing down final details for someone to sublet our apartment for the summer! What a wonderful blessing it will be to have someone covering the cost of our rent while we are away!

                -The Lord’s still small voice, leading and guiding my every moment… He is so so good J

Prayers for:

                -Further financial provision

                -Accomplishing all that I need to do! 

                -Stress maintenance… time for relaxing, sleeping, eating well, exercising, and enjoying friends

                -Wisdom and guidance for some medical concerns

Thank you everyone for sharing this journey with us.  You are such a blessing, and a crucial part of this ministry J