First Timers

     So, here we are.  It is the middle of September (which is hard to believe in the first place) and we have officially been a part of the International Teams family for 6 weeks.  This also means that we are 6 weeks into fundraising.  It has proven to be beautiful and difficult.

            First, I, Haley, have been humbled by the amount of people who took time to view our initial video, who have shared it, and who have encouraged us because of it.  I could never have imagined the support and encouragement we would receive and we thank each of you!  I believe it is evidence that God is at work and can use anything to spread His love and His story.

Second, we have been honored and blessed to encounter hearts and spirits that are willing to support us prayerfully and financially.  The few people we have met one-on-one with have offered to financially support us on a monthly basis without us even needing to ask.  Long-distance family members we have contacted via letters have responded with monthly donations, one-time donations, and prayer. Wow…we have been blown away. Thank you for supporting the work God has called us to in His Kingdom!

But, it has also been a tough road.  Not everything goes the way we would hope, in all our humanity.  Life is busy – which makes it difficult to connect with others and set up times to meet in person.  Additionally, we just moved our lives half way across the country to California.  Although Shay is from here, he hasn’t lived here in years – and it is hard to start over, to make new friends and create new “safe-spaces.” But, most of all, it is flat out difficult to ask people to financially support you, especially in a new place.  In our imperfection we question what others think of us and our motives, we worry about how we are perceived.  When, in all reality, if our hearts are in line with the Lord’s it doesn’t matter what others think.  We are here to do His work, and part of His work in our lives means we have to be 100% financially supported by others while we work in Italy.

It is a lesson of faith and of dependency.  It is a lesson I must strive to learn on purpose, because it would be incredibly easy to want to give up instead.  But there is something bigger than me, than us.  There is something far greater than comfort that awaits us on the road ahead.  There is adventure, growth, change, and love.  We have been given so much love and grace from God and it has radically defined our lives.  Now, we have an amazing opportunity to give it away in a new capacity and place.

For those of you who don’t yet know – Shay and I have been accepted as Community Transformation Coordinators on the Rome, Italy team with International Teams.  Our first commitment is two years.  Two years dedicated to seeking out the needs (ALL kinds of needs) of a community in Rome, strategizing ways to provide for these needs, and filling in the “holes” with gifted and passionate people who can make it a reality.  Our team is and will be a part of ITeams 2020 vision and goal.  We will be one of 50 communities where no one is invisible and everyone has access to food, freedom, and forgiveness.  We will bring people together to help the oppressed so that lives and communities can be transformed by the power of God.

However, in order to do this, we first have to be 100% fully funded.  Our goal is to be on our way to Rome by May 10, 2014.  For this to happen we need a community of people dedicated to providing us with monthly donations that will support us and our ministry for the next two and a half years.  Our monthly budget includes all living expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, food, business, ministry, insurance, repatriation (for when we return to the States), small personal fund, taxes, school bills, conferences, savings, and some pension.

Additionally we also need one-time gifts for our start-up costs. Those costs include training, a vision trip to Rome, language school, airfare for when we move, visas, and home set-up. Fifteen percent of our entire budget (one-time and monthly) goes toward the GSF (Global Service Fund).  It is meant to help ITeams organization as a whole. We are joining their vision and working with them as a team to carry out this vision in Rome. As a big picture it feels REALLY big.  But we believe this is where God wants us and we believe He has wonderful, beautiful people in mind that will help make it happen. If you have any questions regarding ITeams, our ministry, or the budget please do not hesitate to ask! We desire to be clear and open about our journey!

If you would like to give one-time or monthly, please click the link below.  It will redirect you to the ITeams giving website where you can securely give.

If you are interested in supporting us, but cannot or do not wish to do so financially there are other ways to be involved!  We could use airline miles, financial donations from businesses, introductions to others who may also be willing to be involved, prayer, and to simply share the story of what God is doing in our lives with others.

Despite how you decide to be involved, or even if you decide not to be, we thank you for the time you took to join us on our journey.  We are honored to share our hearts and God’s work with you.  We are so excited for what lies ahead and we hope that you will walk the road with us! Thank you for your encouragement, support, and love.  We cannot do this without you.

Love,

Shay and Haley

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