No More Boots
As I sit here composing this entry, I’m seeing snowflakes blow across the landscape outside, which is already blanketed in an inch or two of snow from last night. Though it’s not technically “winter” yet, it appears the winter weather has arrived early. I’m looking outside the window of my old bedroom upstairs in my parents’ house, and I’ve come to the realization that I don’t have any snow boots.
Correction: I don’t have any snow boots anymore… Over the summer, I threw them away.
You see, I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was done with winter. I had an iron-clad plan to move to Florida where I would trade my boots for flip-flops. I was downsizing, and my boots were a little worn. So, with the confidence that I wouldn’t need them anymore, out in the dumpster they went! But, here I am. I’m still here…living back at my parents’ house. It’s snowing, and I don’t have any boots.
How did this happen? How did I get here? I owned a home! I had a successful career! I was going places! I had big plans! (For the answers to these questions, look here or here.)
It would be an understatement to say that these last few months have been a complete whirlwind of re-thinking, re-learning, re-adjusting, and re-focusing. (This so-called “whirlwind” should be evidenced by my severe lack of posts on here lately!) But, sometimes, I think we need these moments in our lives where everything gets tossed up in the air and jumbled around to get rid of the distractions and keep us focused on what is important.
Here recently, this naturally introverted, never-wanting-to-burden-anyone-with-anything personality has ventured into the world of fundraising. I never, ever wanted to have a job working in fundraising (or “development” as it is often called in the business world). But, I had to dive in head first in a very big way! For my own survival, I have to raise support, or I won’t be going to Kenya at all. This means that for the last several weeks, I’ve been reaching out to people, meeting with them, having dinner, lunch or coffee with them, and asking them to support my ministry.
Let me just take a time-out here to point something out to you… If you think it is awkward or uncomfortable to be asked by someone you know to give them money, think about what it must be like for the person who is doing the asking. I guarantee you – from my own experience – it is 100 times worse for them!
All of that said, in the time since I started this journey about two months ago, I’ve managed to secure monthly, sustaining commitments totaling 58% of my total monthly needs. By any measure, that is astonishing progress! But, I can’t stop and celebrate that for too long, because I need to raise 42% (about $1,900.00) more in monthly commitments by the end of January to stay on target. Factor in the holidays, and that really only leaves me about 10 weeks to go. (And I haven’t even mentioned my sending budget, which is another story entirely.)
I have been incredibly humbled by the many people who have committed to financially support the work I’ll be doing and who truly believe in this ministry! I’ve said from the start that this isn’t about me; rather, it’s about the futures of hundreds of thousands of children living in extreme poverty. It’s about investing in this ministry. It’s about building capacity. It’s about enabling it to grow many times over and reach even more children than we are now. It’s about social justice, and doing what is right. It’s about hope.
I know I have a wide variety of people with a wide variety of beliefs who are following along with my adventures here. I think it’s evident that I’m a person of faith, and this is very much a journey of faith for me. I haven’t made a three year commitment to serve in Kenya because I want to. (Remember, MY plan was to move to Florida!) I’m doing it because I feel called to. Called and prepared by God.
So, I have a choice. I can respond to that, or I can ignore it and hope that God will call someone else to go instead. Sometimes, I think that’s how a lot of people respond to things today. A need is presented, and there is this mentality of “I don’t need to do that because somebody else will” that often permeates our culture. I’m just as guilty. When this all began, I argued that there must be somebody else out there with my specific skill set and experiences that can go and serve in the specific capacity needed in Kenya. But, I’m haunted by this thought: What if there isn’t? What if I AM the solution?
Excuses abound: It will be inconvenient. It will be uncomfortable. It will take too much time. I have more important things to do. Or, how about these: I’m too scared. It’s too much of a risk. I’ll have to give up too much control. It’ll be too hard.
Calling up my inner JFK voice, I say this: I choose to go to Nairobi and serve not because it will be easy, but because it will be hard. I choose to go because maybe I need to let go of some control and take some risks. I choose to go because it will take me outside of my comfort zone and challenge me in many ways. I choose to go because it will help me to be a better person. I choose to go because the work there is important. I choose to go because I am needed there. I choose to go because I’m called to go.
And, as it turns out, in Kenya, I won’t need snow boots either!
I’m looking for financial partners to invest in my work with this ministry for the next three years. Could it be that you are supposed to be part of the solution? If so, check out the partner or give sections of this website. Of course, I’m always happy to answer specific questions or visit with you to talk in more detail about my work in Kenya. Please just ask!
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