Why do we live here again?
Huddling around cups of cocoa early in May, groups of fundraiser participants were shaking their heads and laughing at this question. With fifty mile per hour winds licking at our faces while we braved laps around a high school track and icy temps threatening snow, warm spirits were prevailing. Over 20 friends of all ages came together to raise one-time gifts and pledges per mile/lap in contribution to our launch funding and contact list—blessing us immensely. Over $3,500 was raised on that blustery day, bringing us ever closer to being in Ireland.
Why would we ever want to leave?
Between our scouting trip to Ireland last month, plus the fundraiser, our rental house being put up for sale (leaving us with an uncertain housing situation), and moving Maureen’s mom to North Dakota all happening in May, our family is feeling pressed to ready ourselves for the biggest transition—relocating to Ireland.
While in Ireland, we interviewed with one of the most established Evangelical Christian churches in Galway for a part-time youth leader position to begin in September. We will still be Youth For Christ workers, but split our time between YFC Galway and the church youth ministry. Accepting the position means roughly $1,200 or 20% of our monthly support will be paid by the Galway church. However, this option will only last for 1-2 years, after which we will need to raise that amount of funding through additional monthly supporters, possibly bringing us back to the States to do so.
In order to ready ourselves for further youth ministry in Ireland we are pursuing more training. In the fall, Kevin will be attending the youth leader training offered by Youth for Christ held in Northern Ireland. This intensive course runs for 2 ½ weeks in the beginning of September, and then another week in November. With the baby being born between those two times, and the option to start the church position in September, we are praying about the possibility of moving to Ireland by the end of July/beginning of August. This will only be possible if we fully raise both our launch and monthly funding by the end of June/mid-July.
Even with the paid youth work position at the church, approximately $2,600 (35%) worth of monthly support will be left to raise before we leave. Your generosity has blessed us so much. Thank you for your financial sacrifice and prayers. If you haven’t already partnered with us in one of these ways, would you prayerfully consider doing so? Pledging a yearly gift of $240 ($20/month) or $600 ($50/month) or another given amount, especially by mid-July, will keep us moving closer to working alongside the youth of Ireland.
Blessings,
Kevin, Maureen, Sarai, Hannah, and Baby Girl3
Points of Prayer
*Wisdom about how to approach the youth worker position and our remaining funding
*Peace for our family in a time of abundant transition
*Softened hearts in the Irish youth, leaving them open to God’s Word & saving Grace
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