That awkward post - fUnDrAiSiNg

Fundraising... it's an awkward thing. It just is. 

Many people stay far from it, but it seems God has called us Morgans to be life-long FUNdraisers! Woopie! With the adoption... we have some experience at it! Fundraising salaries is what I like to call a HEAD-FIRST DIVE OF FAITH! Here we go... S.P.L.A.S.H.

We have discussed this, prayed about it, and gotten advice from others about this whole issue of fundraising.  I've come to some conclusions:

It's Biblical - Paul did it (asking and working), Jesus did it (working and relying on others' gifts), priests did it (relying on others' gifts and God's providence), and the disciples did it (working and relying on others' support)... just to name a few. 

It looks different for everyone - some may just rely on donations from others, some may work/sell things to raise additional funds, some may ask, some may pray, some may call, some may make personal visits, etc. 

It's The Church's job to support missionaries - The global church is responsible for supporting those in the field. Support could = financially, prayerfully, in tangible ways, visiting, sharing their stories, etc. Paul, in his letters, always made sure to thank those churches and individuals that gave and supported and emphasized that doing so was glorifying God and increasing kingdom work. 

It's ministry - If loving others, going to the ends of the earth, and serving are all considered ministry... why isn't fundraising? Because it involves money doesn't mean it's the 'secular' part of ministry.  It should be done with the same passion, motivation, and prayer that other ministry is done. It's all for Jesus in the end, right? 

It's necessary - Just because people are doing God's work full-time doesn't mean they should mope around and complain about not having any money! That's just silly! Missionaries should strive to be fully-funded! If God has given individual's goals to achieve... why wouldn't He help them honor those goals? It doesn't seem right for people who are relying on support in some way not to be fully funded - whether that's because of laziness, lack of faith, or fear. If God has called someone to the mission field... we should call of Him for our raised funds! Funds are necessary for life - for food, housing, transportation, kiddo's needs, etc. 

So... with that said, I want to give you a run down of what's going to be happening WHEN we start with Praying Pelican Missions. FYI - People can begin giving/supporting us now. The money will not be released to us until we start, but we would love to have a base of support for when that happens (AKA... when Eric arrives). Here's the dealio: 

We've truly been blessed to have Praying Pelican give us each a small salary ($12,000/year), with the possibility of earning more based on team recruitment, to help us with daily living expenses while we focus on serving.  Praying Pelican requires us to raise the remainder of our salaries directly through support of family and friends.  Financial support can be given as a one-time gift or as a monthly gift. Nugget of info - signing up for mission trips with us also supports us - win/win right there! Everything that is given in support will go towards our personal living expenses/necessities.  Without such support, we would not be able to go after this awesome task that God has put in our lives.

Jacob and I will do our part too! Jacob plans to do some major carpentry work... kinda like Jesus. He's going to make lots of furniture, pallet art, and maybe a few clocks. I plan to do some interpreting for some college classes... because that's my fav, sell Origami Owl jewelry, and help with the pallet art! Stay tuned for some of our crafts!!! 

How can you get involved? There's 3 ways to support our ministry: 
#1 GO ON an AMAZING mission trip with PPM! Check it out here!! 
#2 Pray!!!!! Please pray! 
#3 Give financially (if you feel led, instructions are below)

ONLINE: 

• 95.5% will be given to us. 4.5% is used to cover credit card fees and processing fees by Praying Pelican Missions.
• Give Here! 

OR 

• Go to http://www.prayingpelicanmissions.org/donate  
• Scroll down until you see "Anna & Jacob Morgan" 
• You can select Donate to do a one-time donation or select the amount you want to subscribe monthly.  You'll be asked to fill in your information once you click on the option you prefer. 

CHECK:

• 95.5% will be given to us. 4.5% is to cover processing fees by Praying Pelican Missions.
• Write check to Praying Pelican Missions (do NOT put our names anywhere on the check.) Include a note with the check stating: "Support for Jacob and Anna Morgan" and your email address to receive a receipt via email or your mailing address to receive a receipt by mail.

Mail to:

Praying Pelican Missions

4899 Miller Trunk Hwy, Suite 216

Duluth, MN 55811

• Once the check is received by Praying Pelican Missions, it will be processed within 7 business days.  A receipt will be sent to you after the check has been processed. 

ONE LAST PUSH - ADOPTION!

Happy weekend! 

So... we got word this week that we are JUST waiting on our referral... THAT'S ALL!! The referral is our pictures of our Eric (and maybe Ziggy), the medical records, education level, and TRAVEL DATES!!!!! Woo hoo!!! We are expecting this ANY day... please note that "any day" could mean tomorrow... or in two months... we are at the mercy of the Belizean government. 

Either way... we want to be prepared.  Thanks to our AWESOME God and you amazing people, we have the funds for the last payment for the actual adoption.  We are still raising money for the travel fees.  


Travel fees include:
2 round trip flights to Belize = around $1,700
1 ONE-WAY flight from Belize (for Eric... oh happy day) = around $500
Hotel cost
Transportation in country
and everything else that goes into traveling... 


We want to include you on this last piece... leaving a personal touch on bringing our boy(s) home! We started this fundraiser last year, but I have not done a good job of following through with it, so NOW'S THE TIME! 

It's the PUZZLE FUNDRAISER!!! Our LAST push for our adoption funding!!! HALLELUJAH!!! Here's the deal:

We probably have about 400 puzzle pieces left

Once you 'purchase' a puzzle piece (see directions below), we will write your name, friend/family member's name, or family name on the back of the puzzle piece. Once it is completed we will hang it in one of the clear picture frames so you can see the front and back. It will hang in our Eric's room as a reminder of all the people that helped to bring him home. Plus it will give us a lasting record of who helped make this possible.

 Step 1: buy a piece of the puzzle for $10 (or more whatever you like!) just click on the donate button above to purchase or contact us for other methods of payment, then we'll write your name on the back of the piece. 

When you pay through PayPal, you can enter the name you want on the piece in the comment box! 

Our goal is NOW 400 pieces which would be a HUGE step in raising our travel fees - $4,000!

 

Step 2: once it is completed we will hang it in our Eric's room in a double sided frame so you can see the back with all the names of the people that helped to bring him home! How awesome will it be for Eric to see all of the people who have loved him before they even knew him! 

Step 3: spread the word! I'm having a hard time thinking of 400 people I know!

Here's what the completed puzzle will look like: 

So... would you help us get Eric home? 

I can't wait to show you all the pictures of our beautiful boy when we get them!!!!! Be on the look out!!! :) Let's keep praying him home! Our God is faithful and He hears our prayers! 

Bringing Eric Home... all the pieces of the puzzle

We are still working on raising money to BRING ERIC HOME!! Read our story here if you don't know it! 

Pieces of the Puzzle:

Our goal is to have 500 pieces purchased. Which would be a HUGE step toward adoption - $5000! So you buy a puzzle piece for $10 (wanna buy more than one? that's cool too). We will write your name, friend/family member's name, or family name on the back of the puzzle piece. Once it is completed we will hang it in one of the clear picture frames so you can see the front and back. It will hang in our Eric's room as a reminder of all the people that helped to bring him home. Plus it will give us a lasting record of who helped make this possible.

This is a picture of the acutal puzzle we have that is a fundraiser to help bring home Eric! - Belize-ish... beach-y with some ocean life! 

Here's how it works: 

Step 1: buy a piece of the puzzle for $10 (or more whatever you like!) just click on the donate button above to purchase or contact us for other methods of payment, then we'll write your name on the back of the piece. Our goal is around 500 pieces which would be a HUGE step forward in getting started - $5,000! 

Step 2: once it is completed we will hang it in our childs room in a double sided frame so you can see the back with all the names of the people that helped to bring him/her home! 

Step 3: spread the word! I'm having a hard time thinking of 500 people I know!