Missions Fund Raising

Process to fund raising for short term missions. Commit to the process, not the outcome God controls the outcome. Our job is to be faithful. Faithfulness is success. This is a rule for evangelism, discipleship, preaching, missions even fundraising. We don't control the outcome. When we fixate on the outcome, we become desperate and are tempted to manipulation. Fear and guilt become levers we're motivated by in our fundraising. And we fail. Don't do this! Commit to the process. Pray If you're going to be asking people to get behind you, to come on your team and to support you by funding your trip, ask God first. This is low-hanging fruit. No one loves you more than God, affirms you more than God. And He provides. Identify Who are you going to ask? Think broadly. Be generous in your estimation and expect people to be generous. Don't discredit people who can only give small gifts. Don't decide for them whether or not their going to give. Give them an opportunity. Notify Don't jump straight to asking. Give people a heads up. Let them know what you're going to be doing and that you're going to ask them to join your funding team. Here's a sample of simple notification ... I'm trying to go to Honduras to serve orphans in a month and I'm really excited about it. I'll give you a call this weekend to tell you more about the trip and see if you want to help me make it happen. That heads up removes awkwardness for them (Why are they calling?) and for you (How do I bring it up?). ways to notify: Paper newsletter E-mail Facebook message Text message Announcement at Small Group Do this in person if possible. Over the phone is okay, but awkward. You have to wade through silences and give people space to think. Make sure people know what you're going to do and where you're going to do it and why. Feel free to share the total amount you need, but don't feel like you need to explain where every penny goes unless they ask. Don't hesitate to suggest an amount this helps people know you aren't asking them to bankroll the whole trip. Make sure you know how they can give. And while you're asking put the money part first, but remember, you're building a team. Talk with them about how they might pray for your trip, supplies they might provide, ways they can follow your progress. Do the hard extra work to really include them. If you can't or won't do this, don't raise funds. People have to see how the trip went. They need to know that their generosity and sacrifice meant something. They need to hear stories and see pictures. Don't keep all the joy to yourself. And if you do this, they're more likely to go on a trip in the future and more likely to give to missions work in the future. A lot of us don't give to missions because we feel like we're giving into a black hole, throwing our money away.

To all of our teacher and ABA therapist, friends: Ernie and I have relocated from Zambrano, Honduras to Roatan, Honduras and are now living on the beach! We have Kathy and Jo Jo with us and they are loving the beach and especially the swimming pool! Its like being on vacation everyday :). They will both be starting school together on August 1st at a school here in Roatan called Sandy Bay Alternative school. The school is allowing me to have a therapist, or special ed teacher there with Jo Jo to work with him one on one, and then he can have some social time with kids in his class also! This is great news, but all I need now is a willing therapist, or teacher to come hang out at the beach here in Honduras and work with him for the 2012/2013 school year! There are lots of other details, but instead of putting them here, if anyone is interested, or knows someone that would be interested, please email me at robyn@erinternational.org and I will contact you! Thanks, and God bless! Robyn and Ernie

Faith Academy Zambrano, Honduras, now open!

Faith Academy is finished and has opened up and is now a full functioning school! Praise Jesus!

Thank you to the staff of Foundation Free the Oppressed, and everyone else involved, for making this possible! The kids and staff are so happy that now they don't have to wake up at 5:00 am to get ready, with a one hour bus ride, one way. Now they are just a short walk away! We know they are safe and sound right here in Zambrano! God is Good! The school is open to other children in Zambrano as well, its not just for the children of the Prince of Peace Children's home!

Faith Academy has about 5 full time teachers, but looking for more! If anyone would like to get involved either by sending a monthly donation to support one child, which is $75, per child, per month, or any other financial support to help out with monthly school expenses, or just coming and giving your time, please send your tax deductible donation to:

LIGHT INTERNATIONAL
P.O. BOX 668548
Pompano Beach, FL. 33066

ATT: HONDURAS/SCHOOL

Thank you, and God bless you all!
Robyn

Faith Academy Zambrano Honduras

The school is coming along it looks like the first of the year the school will be fully operational. With the hard work and dedication of the staff of Foundation Free the Oppressed, faith Academy will be opened. The children will be enjoying a Christian, bilingual education and receiving the best tools for their future of success!

Updated pictures of school project, June 26, 2011

Updated pictures of school project

Update on the Christian, Bilingual School in Zambrano

Just wanted to give you all an update on the roof project. We have the walls being built up, with more support beams, preparing them for the new roof! Looks like it may be done in 6-8 weeks, we are hoping!

Thank you to those that have given towards this project, it´s greatly appreciated!

Take care and God bless you all!

Robyn and Ernie Breaux