Still looking for support

I need lots of prayer and financial support and thought this was another way to ask you for support. Below is my support letter that I'm sending out via email and the post office. Please take a few minutes to read:

and they think I can TRANSLATE

I’m writing to you not because I’ve become fluent in a new language. Nor because I’m off to some African country to adopt a child. Rather, I’m writing to you today to share my exciting opportunity to join my church team on a summer trip. It’s been a prayerful and emotional process to decide to go but I’m glad to tell you that I will be heading to Mexico City this August.

The first week of August I will fly down to Mexico City for 8 days. The purpose of this trip will be to share God’s love. We will be working through Gateway Teams (part of the North American Baptist conference) to serve in a Vacation Bible School setting, with some door to door promotion. Other opportunities might include the churches’ Sunday services for music, testimony and mimes as well as street ministry. Maybe I’ll even find a nearby orphanage to serve at. A local Pastor along with former NAB missionaries will host us.

Though I’m half Mexican, and my friends in the church think I can translate, I have no intentions of translating. I realized last night that my use of the Spanish language is rusty, at best, and I actually had to think of how to translate simple phrases when speaking with a Guatemalan couple. Regardless of how well I can speak the language, I know that I’m supposed to share. I know that God will give me the words to speak, or at least loving arms to hug! As the Message paraphrase says in Psalm 96: 1Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! Sing to God - worship God! 2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea, take the news of his glory to the lost, news of his wonders to one and all! 4-5 For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.

The recent weeks have been a journey for me. I have a million excuses as to why I shouldn’t go: small children at home, a career, limited time off of work, etc. Don’t we all have those excuses? However, I have a deep ingrained love for Mexico that started when I was in high school and took my first of many missions trips to Mexicali. Now 14 years after my first trip, I’m excited to go back.

Included in those excuses for not going is a lack of faith that I will come up with the money. You see, Ryan and I are budgeted pretty tightly so that our extra money is getting saved for our adoption that we’re working on (you can pray for that too... siblings from Ghana, Lord willing). How could I find any more money in our budget? I’m writing to you for two reasons:

The first reason is to ask you to pray that my faith increases. Pray that I would love God more deeply each day. Would you pray for my finances, my travel, the people I’ll rub shoulders with, and my family who I’ll leave behind?

Secondly that you would prayerfully consider partnering with me for this trip. I have to raise approximately $1200. Already I have been encouraged in this process. I was able to sell a few things that matched exactly what I needed for my first deposit. Two days later I received a check in the mail for $50 towards my second deposit. Though I’m encouraged, the reality is that I’m a long way from my total. Would you be willing to forego that Starbucks latte a few times? Would you be willing to wear an existing outfit to your next social event rather than buying a new one? Would you take a walk in the park for your date night rather than eating out just once?

I have $600 due May 31st and the remainder due on June 30th. If you would be interested in partnering with me, will you let me know? For a tax deductible gift, make checks may payable to First Baptist Church and mail them to me. If you would like to know more or have questions, please, please, please feel welcome to contact me!

You can leave a comment here or email me at tam4buit at hotmail dot com.