One time my freshman year, while visiting my parents in Duncan, OK, my dad pulled me aside to “have a little chat.” It seemed, he put it, that I never called home, never visited, never so much as forwarded a funny Youtube video to either of them, unless I needed money. I wasn’t fully conscious of the fact (or of really any facts, being that I was 18) that I had been charging my parents for the services of love, affection, company, whatever. Looking back, it was an incredible business plan: selling my time and attention back to those who had freely given me so much. Pure profit.
Surely being unaware of the source of our blessings constitutes this same sort of ingratitude, and while Tiffany and I pray to thank God for what we have, we’ve really neglected those people who have given us money to be here, working in Germany. So far people have given nearly $45,000! I want to acknowledge all those who are supporting us, for they are sacrificing without really experiencing the joys and excitement of being part of this community and church. People have commended us for our struggles with language and culture shock, with fundraising, with being so far from family and everything else that living in Germany entails. But the absolute thrill of meeting new people, reading with people and talking about Christ is such a rewarding experience, and now that we’ve really settled in and gotten some German under our belts, the things that we’ve given up for have really been worth it.
So we want to renew our commitment with you to keep in touch through blogging, emailing, and sending out newsletters, because you need to know what good your monthly contributions are doing. Our latest newsletter is out now (and if you’re not yet on our email list, please let us know!) and therein we’ve detailed some recent financial trouble. We’ll be needing to do some more fundraising, and knowing that has compelled me say to those who have contributed, Thank You. We’ll be in touch.
