Missions Series #4: Prayers

As I previously mentioned, my friends, the Bonhams (and their partner family, the Kines), are moving to Columbia (today!) to serve as missionaries!  I am sad to see Nikki go but know that the Lord will use them.  And I can't wait to hear about what they are doing (and provide y'all with updates!)

Please keep this sweet family in your prayers.

Pray for:

• safe travels
• adjustment to a huge city with a different culture and language
• the Bonhams' partner family, the Kines (whom I don't know) are expecting a baby AND moving to a new country all at once -- pray for them and their 4 other kids as they move
• pray the Bonhams learn the language quickly - they start language school soon!
• pray they find a place to live (they are in temporary housing right now)
• pray their twin boys adjust quickly!
• pray that Nate and Nikki as they meet Columbian people, pray friendships develop and ministry (one on one) begins!
• also, pray for them as they continue to pursue a Columbian adoption (read their personal blog for more info on that!)

Thanks for your prayers for the Bonhams.  Here is a picture of Nikki and me at their going away party Sunday.

Missions Series #3: ALMOST THERE

Please read this post from the Bonhams and Kines.

They are almost there.  COMBINED, the two families have $600 left. A couple weeks ago, it was around $1500 left for the entire team.  As the post points out, thats 12 monthly pledges of $50 or 24 monthly pledges of $25.  I posted about the Bonhams a few days ago and continue to encourage you to pray about giving.

The great news is that since they are so close to 100%, they have been approved to leave for Columbia in a month. I urge you to be praying for them this month as they prepare.  And continue to pray about giving (to them or other missionaries) -- $25, $50 requires only a few sacrafices a month so even those on tight budgets can afford something small to support God's work in other countries or our own country.

Missions Series #2: Find money to give

Please read my original post on my missionary friends, Nate and Nikki Bonham (and their adorable twin boys!)

Most of my friends are young and not exactly wealthy (yet).  I think its easy to think that you can't afford to give to missions at our age....and truthfully, maybe you can't give a lot yet, but you can give some.  This is important for a fewreasons:
     1. It trains you to start giving on a monthly basis. 
     2. We are called to be involved in missions on some level...locally, internationally, financially, through prayers.
     3. Even a little bit can help ($25 a month is $300 a year, $30 a month is 360, $50 a month is $600) A few hundred dollars can buy a lot -- groceries, pay bills, pay for the ministry overhead, daycare for the
children while the parents are in language school)

Anytime you give to missions or a charity, it means you are likely giving up something you wanted to spend money on (if you live on a fixed income like most of us!)  I think most people think I am too overwhelmed with bills, groceries, rent, paying back student loans that I can't give.  And, truthfully, maybe you can't give 100, 200 dollars a month --but almost everyone has a little "extra" money that they spend on new clothes, dinners out, movies.  We can all give up something extra we like to support missions.

How to give $25 a month to missions:
- skip your friday night dinner (15) and movie (10) with friends
- skip date night (20 tickets, 5 popcorn) for a night in
- give up 2-3 lunches out and instead pack your lunch
- say no to the sale top
- 5-6 fancy coffees this month
-say no to a play or concert
- a combination: one less movie, one less lunch out, one less coffee
-one less manicure or pedicure (15-35)

How to give $50 a month to missions:
- give up 2 date nights a month
- say no to that new pair of shoes/dress
- don't eat lunch out all week
- give up your mani & pedi (45-50)
- save the gas from a weekend trip to Oxford/Starkville - or split gas with a friend and save half your money for missions!
- give up 2 girls night outs
- sell your ticket to one game a month and just sit in the grove
-combination: one less girls night, one less pedicure
-combination: 3 days of bagged lunches when you would rather eat out, say no to two coffee drinks, skip one movie

A few decisions a month can enable you to support missions.  Actually, I have been thinking, I want to actively choose not to do something a couple nights (a couple wkd nights a month spent in) and let that be a trigger to pray for the missionary families I support.

Missions Series #1: Meet the Bonhams!

Hi y'all, my internet at home is finally working which mean I can now do my missions series I've been promising!!! I want to tell you about my friends, Nate and Nikki and kids and their plans to move to Columbia with MTW (Mission to the World) very soon, AND I want to challenge you to start giving a little to missions -- hopefully to Nate and Nikki (shameless plug), but if not, to missions in general because our 20s/30s is when we should start- or even earlier! (Check out their personal blog here. Check out their missions blog here.)

a little about Nate and Nikki Bonham....

Nikki and I have been friends since the 4th grade. We both grew up at the same little church plant in Mississippi. I actually hadn't seen her in a few years because we were both in college and starting our adult lives but when I moved back to Jackson, we picked back up with being friends. Nikki is pretty easygoing and we are able to go a few weeks without visits and still pick right back up. Thats a blessing to have in a friend and I suspect its a skill that will benefit when she moves FAR away from her family and friends.

Nikki is married to Nate. They were one of those adorable couples that met in high school and got married young. Nate recently graduated from seminary and the two have spent the last year fundraising. They have two precious two year old boys- twins. Barrett and Noah. Barrett is a master planner. You can literally see the wheels in his brain turning, he's so smart, way smarter than me. Noah is bigger than Barrett and a lovable teddy bear, clearly the athlete in the family. We joke that they will be pinky and the brain. Noah will carry out Barrett's crazy schemes. The kids have travelled so much during their first two years of life for fundraising and training, etc. They are remarkably flexible and well rounded 2 year olds!! (likewise, a skill that will be great for moving to the mission field!)

Nikki has wanted to be a missionary for as long as I can remember. I've mentioned before that I attend a missions minded church growing up. She went on the church missions trips (the two of us grew up in a very missions minded church which encouraged going or supporting) and always knew this was how she felt called to serve the Lord. The Lord also opened Nate's heart to missions and they've literally been preparing for years - school, training, visiting potential countries. Getting there has been a challenge as they've visited several possible countries and had to fundraise, etc.  It's literally a calling that took years to make happen (side note: clearly God uses times of waiting to prepare  us for His purposes!)

Now, they are preparing to leave for Columbia with another family. They are going as a team (see team blog here). The team will be trained in the language and how to run a ministry for 2 years before being placed in another spanish speaking country to begin a ministry/mission there. This is the first time MTW has taken a two family team and trained them together with the plan of them continuing to work together. So, the Bonhams and Kines (other family) are doing something different! It will be great for the Bonhams to have friends/co-team members on the field with them whom they trust and whom they work well together (the men have been worknig in ministry together for awhile at a local presbyterian church) BUT this has some challenges-- fundraising for 2 families!!

Nate Nikki and the Boys have finished their missionary training in New York and will hopefully be leaving for Columbia within the next month. They have raised over 90% but need to be at 100% to leave. I've never done much fundraising, but I get the idea that its like weight loss -- the last little bit is the toughest. Nate and Nikki need about 400 dollars more a month (think 16 pledges of 25 a month or 8 pledges of 50). They are getting to the end of their contacts, but I think if several people shared their information with their friends, there will be some sweet people who have been looking for a way to support missions and might want to support this sweet family.

Here is the link to donate or ask Nate questions.  (Also, if you do donate, please email them your donation amount bc it takes a few weeks to process. This way they can add it into their totals!)  Here's a link to tell you more about this two family team.

**THIS IS THE AUTOMATIC DRAFT FORM****

I ask you to prayerfully consider giving to this family's ministry.  I feel strongly about missions, but even more strongly about this family in missions. Partly because I have seen the Lord's plans unfold (and it hasn't always been easy or as planned) and partly because I know that this is where they are called.  But, also partly because I love their philosophy on missions. They think their financial and prayer support are a part of the calling.  Nikki will keep everyone updated via blogs, facebook, emails. (Additionally, I will update everyone on them and their ministry!)  She says she hopes that their supporters feel welcome to bring teams or come to Columbia or even contact her for updates.  Afterall, those who give money should know how the Lord is working in that Country and what the continued needs are.  Please be in prayer for this sweet family as they prepare to move and feel free to pass their information along to anyone else who may pray or donate. I don't think everyone is called to go into missions, but everyone is called to support missions in some way.