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Have you seen our thermometers lately?

They are looking HOT, right?  It is hard to believe we are extremely close to having our one time fees covered!  Praise God!

So excited to have so many people join us by partnering with us monthly and/or making a one time donation!

$10 a month, $20 a month, $50 a month or $200 a month.  No gift is too small!

Thanks so much, friends!

What's up?!

EXCITING NEWS! 

First, we have a date.  This family is super duper ecstatic about this!  JULY 9.  Yup, that's when we are leaving our home in NC and flying to Guatemala!  AHHHHHH.  The kids are excited, to say the least.

Wait, the joyous news continues!  We have been consistently receiving one time donations and monthly commitments and we thank you all so much!  

Take a look at our financial update:

$118,880 (total fees for 2 years, family of 8 with one trip home for furlough and includes flights, residence fees, etc.)  To see the detailed Guatemalan budget click HERE. 

$18,923 (total raised in one time fees, not including monthly support)

$27,600 (total raised in future monthly fees)

$7,200 (committed one time fees within the next 6 months)

$20,000 (projected Christmas and Spring fundraisers)

$45,157 (TOTAL NEEDED)

What is $45,157?

* $1,881 in monthly payments over 24 months

*  100 people giving a one time fee of $451.50

*  451 people giving a one time fee of $100

*  100 people give $18.80 a month for 24 months

Thankfully, every gift that goes through Pathways Community Church (must be designated for TOWNSEND fund) is tax deductible.  Please consider Guatemala as you near the end of the year and tax season approaches.  

Exciting News and Financial Update

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

First, we rejoice at how the monthly pledges have been ongoing and steady. Thank you friends for joyfully donating and pledging.  We praise the Lord for His faithfulness and your faith to take the leap and give in obedience!  

Just a few items to discuss.  We have two major fundraisers coming up and we look forward to seeing how BIG God is going to provide through them!  We believe through these two fundraisers and additional monthly supporters, we will be fully funded by June.  

That said, we have made plans to leave Wilmington, NC and fly to La Antigua, Guatemala in the summer of 2014.   

As mentioned above, we need monthly supporters.  It is our joy to serve alongside La Antigua in 2014 and assist the building teams in helping to provide shelter for local Guatemalans who have faced hard times.  This is where our heart is, this is where we believe the Lord is leading us and this is one area where we see Jesus working in Guatemala.  Would you be willing to sacrifice $20 a month or $40 a month to help provide Guatemalans with shelter and safe water?  We understand it is just that - a sacrifice.  Times are hard.  People are without jobs or income.  It is a huge step leap of faith.  Pray about it and let us know.  It would be an honor to have you join us on this journey!  

The total needed to serve two years for our family of 8 is $126, 880.  Why so much? Please read here to see the breakdown of costs.  Please note we have sought counsel with Pastor Mike at Iglesia Del Camino, who has served outside La Antigua for 8 years and knows the people, the costs of living, etc.  We prayerfully tweaked this budget and believe it is accurate. Please feel free to ask any questions regarding finances and we would be glad to speak with you.

Let us know your thoughts!  Give us a call, send a text or email us.

Love you,
Jack and Susie

Lessons Learned Along the Way

We have mentioned in the past how humbling fundraising is.  Over the past 8 years, we have personally fundraised for our adoptions, friends' adoptions and ASOH Orphan Ministry and now to serve in Guatemala.

I have learned a few things about myself through fundraising:

*  It is ALWAYS easier to fundraise for someone else.

*  Sometimes I want to cringe when I post fundraisers for our adoptions/missions.

*  I have absolutely no problem with people fundraising for their adoption/mission/cause.  I encourage it.

*  It is a huge honor when someone asks to host a fundraiser for you.

*  I am determined to find joy in fundraising.  It's a work in process.

*  I have learned more about the WHOLE body of Christ through fundraising.  I have SEEN it.  People enthusiastically donate time, money, and/or talents.  Everyone has a place and together great things happen.

*  God is HUGE.  He is faithful.  He always shows Himself BIG.

*  Few people can give BIG and get it done.

*  Many people can give SMALL and get it done.

*  God makes it all possible.  Matthew 19:26:  Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


Are you fundraising?  Have you fundraised in the past?  Let me know about it!  Leave a comment!

ONE DAY ONLY!

Are you familiar with Delicate Fortress?  I absolutely love the mission behind Delicate Fortress.  They are giving women opportunities, giving them a voice and giving them hope!   Human trafficking, enslavement, extreme poverty and exploitation ends with having a voice! 

Taken from the Delicate Fortress website:

We believe women shouldn’t be forced to relinquish or sell their children or themselves in order to allow for their survival.  

We believe in culturally appropriate opportunity, investment and advocacy.

We bet you do too.

So we bring you shopping with purpose.  Each item you find in our store provides dignity, livelihood and fair wages to female artisans all over the world.  We’re fighting for women and their children. Come fight with us.

Today ONLY Delicate Fortress is fundraising for US!  What does this mean?  If you place your order today and use the coupon code TOWNSEND at check out, you are helping women all over the world AND you are supporting our family as we make plans to serve in Guatemala.  We appreciate your help and your support.  Thank you, Delicate Fortress for ALL you do!

Our Peeps!

Thank you Bestul Photography for taking our family pics in downtown Wilmington.  You made it FUN for us!   Blog readers, please "like" Bestul Photography on Facebook and book your photo shoot today!

Here is just a little update on all of our lil peeps!

Where has the time gone?  Sophie is my first baby and she is almost 12!  She is creative and beautiful.  She is humble so sometimes we wonder if she realizes the extent of her talent, love and kindness but the rest of us see it!  

Annabelle just turned 10 this month.  This special girl loves to read and works hard.  She is such a big helper and one of the most loyal people I know.  She loves and she loves hard.  

Ava is 8 and a total goof.  She snuggles like nobody's business.  The first thing she does in the morning is give out "Ava love" in the form of hugs and kisses.  This girl is pure sparkle.  

Jack calls Pearl, "Pearly Squirrel" but the rest of us call her "monkey" because she is always doing gymnastics (self taught) around our house.  Pearl is 6 years old and has the cutest dimples in the world.  Just sayin'.

Joseph Pierre!  Another bright ray to our lives!  Joseph turned 3 this month and has the best laugh of anyone I know.  He is growing leaps and bounds...and the rest of us are growing right along with him.

Jude is the baby of the family, but never tell him that!  He is 2 years old and cracks us up all day long.  He is mischievous and non-stop on the go and has everyone wrapped around his finger.   

Just the Two of Us...

Our dear friends at Bestul Photography, were super kind to take pics of our crazy crew. These are the type of friends we have.  Totally cool, totally generous.

Today I am going to share just one picture with you.  It happens to be my least fave pic of me.  This has NOTHING to do with Bestul Photography (they are amazing!) and EVERYTHING to do with Jack and Susie.  Thirty minutes before pics, Jack and I were driving in two separate cars, going two separate directions.  Not on purpose but because of lack of communication.  This is our REAL life. It's blessed, it's hectic, it's amazing but sometimes it is down right crazy.

Finally we meet up, probably definitely driving faster than we should be, the children are getting dressed in the car and no hair was brushed and makeup applied.  Surely we were going to be an hour late.  My dress was two sizes too small (so thankful for the flare) and I raised my voice more than I should have BUT this is us.

But even though I really wish these sleepless nights didn't show up in the bags under my eyes, these smiles are genuine.  Because I really love my life.

I totally have the best husband in the world.  Yeah, yeah, I know everyone says that but I really do.  He is loving, forgiving and thoughtful and helps out like no other man I know.

After the photo shoot I told some girlfriends about this picture and how I actually hid it from my timeline when Bestul Photography posted it on Facebook.  I was embarrassed by how tired I looked in it.  As I am telling my girlfriends this, they tell me Jack just made it his profile pic.  I want his password ASAP so I can erase it.  I yell down to him and ask him why on earth he put THIS particular pic on his profile and he says, "because you're hot!"  This is my man.  He doesn't see the wrinkles, the tired eyes and the lack of hair and makeup.  He even forgives my lack of communication.  I adore this guy.