As long as I’ve known my friend, Katie, she’s been serving others. It was never a question of if she was going to serve, only when and where.
For people like Katie, serving isn’t an obligation but a way of life.
It hasn’t always been easy, but I know if you asked her she would always say
it has always been worth it. Some of the ways she’s served could be
considered small, like helping friends move or offering advice. Others
would be considered larger, like leading mission trips or mentoring
teenage girls. But this time she’s really outdone herself–she’s decided
to move to Bolivia for a year. I didn’t say Birmingham; I said
Bo-liv-ia.
After a lot of prayer, counsel and consideration over the last few
months, Katie’s decided to teach in a Christian school in Santa Cruz,
Bolivia. The decision didn’t come lightly, and it does come with a lot
of cost to her. Not only does it mean leaving her friends, family and
job in the US, but it means raising her own support. The price tag for
one year comes in at around $27,000 to cover wages, insurance, living
expenses, travel to/from the US and everything in between. Now before
you balk at that figure, know that Katie is confident that God is bigger
than that number, and more importantly, is calling her to this cause.
If you asked Katie’s friends, it would only take them a matter of
seconds to tell you about a time she’s served them personally or served
alongside them. It’s just who she is. And she’s asked for very little in
return. Now it’s our turn to reciprocate. It’s our privilege. It’s our
opportunity to join her in God’s bigger story for her life, and in that
way, expand our own.
I hope you’ll join me in praying for Katie over this next year.
She’ll need to know that the folks back home are thinking of her,
missing her and sending good thoughts her way. And she needs to know
people are rooting for her. The other obvious thing she needs are donations.
When you hear $27,000 you may be tempted to sit back and do nothing
because you can’t give very much. Don’t let that stop you. If everyone
gives a little, it adds up to a lot. It will take all of us to get Katie
to Bolivia. It’s a call to faith for us all in that way. And when she
hits that mark and gets on that plane, don’t you want to smile knowing
that you had a hand in getting her there?
You can give one-time or through a monthly withdrawal. Here are a few
examples to make the number a little more bite-sized for the latter:
- $5/month = one Grande Skinny Vanilla latte from Starbucks or a Moo Moo Mr. Cow from Moe’s (My favs.)
- $10/month = one movie (There are really only a few good ones on deck right now anyway.)
- $20/month = one sack of the groceries you don’t need but buy anyway (Stick to the list. Avoid impulse.)
- $30/month = renegotiate a bill or other reoccurring charge (Moving the already budgeted money around won’t hurt.)
- $40/month = one nice meal out with a friend (Note: start cooking more and invite friend over.)
- $50/month = a combination of the above (Guilty as charged.)
See, that’s not so bad? Sure, it’s a sacrifice, but what great things
aren’t? Just take a look to see what amount works for you, and make the
decision to give.
These aren’t the kind of financial decisions we regret, but the ones we
can be most proud of. Please consider joining Katie in this new chapter
of her life. Help her love on the people there as she’s loved on the
people here. Give her the resources she needs to follow God down this
unknown and exciting road. Allow a whole other country the opportunity
to experience the amazing Katie J.
For Katie, serving was never an if, only a question of when and where. Well, the time is now and the place is Bolivia.
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