Countdown

As we have been meeting with people and talking the last few weeks, both Lina and I have a sense that we will be able to leave late November. Jason and Katie Huff, our friends and supporters near Houston TX, have invited us to spend thanksgiving with them on our drive down to Mexico. We are making plans around that, meaning we would leave Chicagoland on Monday, November 24th.




This means there are many different things that must come to pass. We are needing pledges for one third of our support to come in. Based on average giving per person so far, we will need about 25 more families to make regular financial pledges. Around ten families have given a verbal confirmation they will contribute monthly, but we don´t know how much. This means another 15 families are needed. With under seven weeks to go, that´s slightly higher than 2 new pledges per week. We´d also love to see one or two more churches get behind us as a local body.

Over one month ago, I (Matthew) stopped working my regular job at Hewitt so that I could spend time sharing more with people and inviting them to prayerfully consider joining our support team. Since then, the economy has been on a roller-coaster and surely many are more concerned than ever about their family budget and making ends meet. We definitely understand that for us to incorporate ourselves into a family´s already tight budget at this time poses clear challenges. Yet we are confident that God Himself will draw the exact people into the work that He has called us to.

Please join us in dedicated prayer for the next six weeks as we plan in faith to pack up, sell, donate or give away our furniture and other possessions as we head down to join the work in Tenancingo. Pray that we will be faithful sharing what God is doing and how we´re being led to join those efforts and that we will increase our trust and dependence on His provision.

... stay tuned ...

Wrapping up Hewitt days (Matthew)

As of this coming Thursday, our wings of faith will be tested. Matthew will end his work at Hewitt after nearly 9 years. Lina will continue working there three days a week and we will begin to take on a small salary from International Teams, based on what is already coming in. We are entering what we hope and pray will be the last push to discover 40% of our ongoing monthly support. Our aim is to have all of the pledges by October so we can begin our travels early November. From Tuesday August 26, this is a mere 10 WEEKS!!

While in Tenancingo, the leadership team there helped outline a two-year plan for us. We liked the fact that we're being viewed as missionaries-in-training as this will allow a certain level of "weight" off our shoulders as we hope to be seen as folks who are gradually getting into the work being done there and in no way possessing any sort of mastery on the job. There will be a lot of reading, writing and practical ministry opportunities for both of us and we look forward to this aspect there. Stay tuned!

Many people have heard our story, our vision, our desire to bring the saving grace of Jesus to the lives of many in Tenancingo. Now, we are praying that decisions will be made by individuals, couples and families to get behind us and commit to a regular ongoing financial and prayer support. We need 25 more solid commitments. There have been some encouraging propositions which we will be addressing in September. Two involve churches, and in three occasions we will gather with multiple families and couples who might be inclined to join our team. Please keep us in prayer for this. Will you, reader, be willing to pray about your part?

A financial status update

Since last blog entry, the world has undergone some major disasters. First the cyclone that hit Myanmar and the tragic restrictions to foreign aid; then the earthquake in China with so many dead and even more left homeless. It is such a sad situation there and other places and we pray God will give comfort to those who mourn and hope to those in despair. Here in Wheeling, IL, the pink flowers in many trees are a vivid reminder of the eternal hope God gives us in which, after "winter," comes a life rich with His blessings.


We continue to move in faith as we trust the Lord to guide us to Mexico. As of this entry we have over 55% of ongoing support pledged. Our plan is for me (Matthew) to end full time work at Hewitt in mid to late August, by when we trust our pledged support will be around 75% to 80%. Then I will dedicate myself more fully to the efforts of broadening our support base so we can leave as soon as possible after that. Its a great leap of faith regardless of how it turns out. Our faith is being stretched as we believe God can provide all our needs by August. Our lease is up at the end of August; school starts for Samuel and Rebeca around that time. In terms of logistics, it would seem to be smoother to leave by Labor Day.... If you have not given it much thought, now is a great time to ask God whether He would have you be a part of our ministry. Some people are pledging $15 or $25 a month and others $75 or $100. Others can send one time gifts, while others can pray for us. What part will you play?

21 to go

Counting us four Reeds, our church is sending a team of youth to help this summer with VBS, construction and other evangelism. We are thrilled to be a part of the trip and have already been involved with helping train the team on language and cultural sensitivity. Hardly anyone of the 17 have been on a missions trip of any kind (much less outside of the US) so this will be a new eye-opening adventure for many. We believe that the church as a whole will gain a better perspective of where we are going as they hear stories from these youth and leaders..

...but can we stay?

The latest big piece of news is that: We can go! After the books closed at the end of March, we counted up the numbers and the donations International Teams has received on our behalf have now exceeded our budgeted "departure expenses." These are the costs associated with travel, purchasing new furniture and appliances, vehicle expenses, and initial setup. In January we had about 68% and in three months have surpassed the 100% mark!


After you've settled down from your excitement, you may be asking when exactly we are leaving. Getting there doesn't automatically mean staying there and we need to have pledges indicating that enough donors will "keep us there." On that count, we are still at 44% of our monthly budget pledged. We have a number of folks thinking about it, some have confirmed they will join our monthly financial support team, a church or two are considering it and a lot of people are praying that God would provide what is still needed.

We'd love to transition down during the summer as this allows good closure from here (our lease ends at the end of August) and good transfer there (schoolyear begins late August/early September). Additionally, we are planning a trip to Tenancingo around the end of July and early August with our church. We are praying about having Matthew stop working around the beginning of July in order to focus more fully on the "support discovery" of the last amounts needed.

... where you fit in

Prayer - God has raised up a team of dedicated people who are committed to pray for us

• for strength, wisdom, energy, health, harmony, boldness, spiritual protection
• for routine activities
• for specific events

Let us know if you´d like to receive more information to better pray...


Financial support

Join our team ongoing financial donors:

A) Regular Ongoing Expenses -our long-term montly budget – $700 still needed in monthly pledges.

• Salary
• Food; household
• Rent; utilities
• Transportation
• Retirement
• Children Education
• Health, Insurance
• Ministry Expenses
• FICA Employer/Employee
• General Services Fund *

B) A Special gift to help build a buffer for low-giving months

C) Education - we are looking at the option of putting our children in private schools. After two years in the public system, we feel there are numerous reasons that point to a private schooling option as a better option for the elementary years (perhaps beyond). This adds nearly $300 to our montly budget, in addition to a one time setup cost of almost $600.

* 15% of every dollar is used for administrative, logistical, spiritual support of International Teams – 3% goes to non US International Teams organizations