So....here's my Haiti Support Letter. If you'd like a special copy of your very own, just let me know with your snail-mail address and I'll get one out to you. I might even throw in a pre-stamped return envelope if you're lucky....
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Dear Friends and Family,
As a lot of you know, the last few years of life have been pretty major ones for me, as I took a huge step in moving out to California for a teaching job here in the Bay Area. While I have to admit that fear of the unknown did make the move a little "scary" God graciously showed me that I was following path he had laid for me as I was almost immediately blessed with a great job, a support system of new friends, and a wonderful church family out here on the West Coast.
With all of this being said, for some time now I have really been asking myself. "If I have been given so much, what have I done to help others?" A few months ago, as I was sharing this with my good friend Dave, he revealed to me that he had actually been in the process of organizing and leading a service trip down to Haiti this upcoming summer. As most of you know, Haiti was hit with a devastating earthquake last year that that it is still reeling from. Combine this with the fact that it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and you have a nation full of very needy people. After some careful prayer, I truly began to feel that I was being called to serve on this trip. After all, I do happen to have a job that gives me the summer off.
So I am taking a step of faith and have decided to commit to this trip. I would be lying if I were to tell you all that I do not come into this trip with some apprehension. What will it be like in a completely different culture? Will I be able to work on projects day after day in Haiti’s intense overbearing heat? How will I handle seeing Haiti in its current state? How will I come up with my part of the funding for this trip? It is clear that I will not be able to do this alone. This is where you, my friends and family, can take part. There are two major areas where support will be vital to me.
First is through prayer. I cannot express the importance and necessity of this element of our trip. Without the Lord being radically present and working through us then no fruit will be produced. Therefore, I ask that you support me through your prayer; for our team, safety, receptive hearts of the Haitian people, and for the funds to complete our projects. This is vital to the success of this trip.
The second way you can help me is through financial support. The cost for each person on our trip is $2,200. That includes airfare, supplies, and money for the various service projects we will be doing. If you choose to support me and I receive more than is necessary for this trip, or for some reason I am unable to go on this trip, the funds you’ve donated will be allocated to the support of other members of the same trip. If not fully utilized there, the funds will be placed in the WestGate Church short term missions FUND to be used for other similar trips. Please make your check out to WestGate Church and write ONLY “Go Beyond” in the memo section of the check. Do NOT write my name on the memo line. Instead, please complete and return the enclosed slip with your check so that your contribution can be properly recorded for my trip. Please note that all donations over $250 will be issued a tax deductable receipt. If your donation is under $250 please keep your own record for your tax purposes. To make things easy, you can even make a donation online with your credit card at: www.westgatechurch.org/secure/index.php/trip/haiti_summer_2010
Thank you in advance for any prayer and/or financial support you that you might feel led to contribute. You are all very special to me and I am excited to include you in on this opportunity to help others in serious need!
God Bless,
Tim
