Someone asked us the other day, 'have you been successful in culturing new relationships this visit home?'
What a great question that is.
Our financial support comes mostly from individuals. Individuals who partner with us primarily because we are friends.
Why do you partner with us financially?
We would LOVE to know the answer to that question, seriously. It would help us to know why people in the future may desire to partner.
For some we think it's friendship, for others a common interest or goal. One side effect is a deepened relationship and shared purpose.
Because of that, it is important to us at ALL times, not just when visiting back in the U.S. to have those relationships continue and to grow.
MANY missionaries in the field fail to maintain contact with friends and partners. We hope we do not. If anything we've felt like we've over communicated at times saying things that possibly we shouldn't say. (-;
But our face to face, in person time has been extremely limited. The result is that when we do get face to face time, it's impact is enhanced. It is really good to see people face to face and spend time.
BUT, how do we make new relationships? If our financial partnership needs to grow, then we need to meet new people, find new churches.... how do we do that?
To tell the truth, we had no idea.
We simply asked God, 'please guide us'.
As a result God brought people into our lives and all we had to do was be open to sharing and making new friends. We're thankful for the new friendships we've built and the new relationships we've built.
We've tried to balance our time well between all our responsibilities without losing our family identity or getting the 'must do's ' done. We view our relationships with you all as a responsibility.
So please, email us and answer the question 'why do you support us?' and we will take those answers to heart.
