I’m trying to get back to increasing my mileage. Monday – 8, Tuesday – 9. That’s a huge change for me from the summer. Surprisingly, my legs feel better than they would during 5k training. Funny how that works.
I’ve yet to decide on a spring marathon. The one I originally wanted to run (Springfield, Ill) has changed to May. I don’t want to risk a stinkin’ heat wave meltdown again, so I was looking to early April. Who knows? I’ll keep looking.
Other than that, I’ve begun to brainstorm the ways I can go about actually trying to raise money this year. VBS costs went up dramatically this year. Normally it cost $5000 for the week to feed all of the people and other expenses for VBS (this is all the cost to actually execute VBS – I remind you that those of us who take a trip down there for the week pay for our own food, transportation, plus some more to pay our translators and other people…). This year at VBS, the cost pushed $7000. Who knows for next year. I made a small dent last year in that cost. I mean, I didn’t push or publicize the way that I possibly could have. I could have done more.
I don’t like asking for money. I really don’t. It might come from the fact that I’m as cheap as they come. As Lindsey and I are trying to get out of debt, I don’t want to buy ANYTHING. I’m even willing to give up groceries. But, I recognize that when someone does stupid things, such as run marathons and enjoy it, people are willing to thrown money at it. I’m just in the middle of trying to figure out how to go from making a dent, to contributing huge numbers. Not for the sake of “Oh, look how much I raised…” but for the sake of “Oh, look how much we can give!”
I’d thought about seeing the possibility of having a 5k in my town in order to raise money. That’s one thought. I mean, who knows? The other is of course to go about it the same as I did last year, but this year to actually email and snail mail packets of information to churches. I have tons of ideas, I just don’t know how to go about executing all of them.
I could type for hours about things I learned in Haiti. I was only there a week, and I learned a lot, even this past week. I can only imagine how much people who live there full time know and understand.
Anyways, the power of God. They understand.
The power of prayer. They understand.
The necessity for evangelism. They understand.
The need for help – they understand. But sometimes, I wonder, in the midst of all these things, how much Americans understand.
The first three, I could type for hours about the American church (including the one in which I work) and how most people are clueless when it comes to such facts. But I want to focus on the need to help.
In 2007, as I flew into Haiti, I wondered why I was there. The filth and poverty was overwhelming. But as I got to our compound in Saut d’Eau – 45 miles north, it hit me why. There is a need. There are people that must help. But, the answer is not the typical American answer of “throw money at it.” Instead, careful thought and consideration must be taken on how to help friends in Haiti.
Mountain Faith Mission is 100% evangelical efforts combined with 99.9% humanitarian efforts. I say that to let people know that our mission is simply that – a mission work. The first and foremost thing for MFM is to focus on evangelism of the local people. But, combined with that, it’s there to help improve the life of the people in villages and churches that we work in.
Giving money to the people directly will not improve a lot of their life. I mean, yes, it will improve it, but many times, seeing their need, I recognize the fact that there are so many things that need to be done. Read the rest of this entry »
As of right now, I have bought my ticket to Haiti to leave on August 22. My flight leaves Indianapolis at 6:00 am on the 22nd and after going to Chicago and Miami, I will land in Port-au-Prince at approximately 3:40 pm. I am hoping to squeeze through onto some other earlier flights if possible because I think I’m the last person from our group to arrive.
While there, we’ll be holding out annual VBS. This year will also be a big year because the original founder of MFM will be down there at the young age of 99 years old on the 23rd.
Our theme is going to be Christ in the Old Testament. I am trying to get four different topics together to divvy out to our teachers to be prepped to teach each day. So far, I have decided that I will be teaching on the Passover and not only how it points towards Christ, but how Christ celebrated it with his disciples.
I am totally looking forward to it. If you’re interested in going or supporting our VBS this year, please don’t hesitate to ask how you can go or support. For those of you who’d like, check out our PayPal site and donate.
Well, here’s the new video. After a little bit of time, I’m impressed with it. Please tell me what you think. If you want to get more involved, just leave a message here and I’ll contact you by email. This is an awesome ministry and an awesome chance to get involved with something much bigger than yourself. So, here she is:
So, we’ve got about 12 weeks til the marathon, which I guess is the big race of the spring for r4h. With all that said, this morning I have been working on informational stuff to send out to churches. I need help with that. I need your help for support. Whether you can donate the $26 for the race in support of r4h, or you can help me by getting your Sunday School class, youth group, or church to open up the package and see if you can take up an offering, have a fundraiser, or anything, it’d be great!
This is such an awesome ministry (Mountain Faith Mission – r4h is just a way to get people to support me while I’m stupid enough to run in the snow) that YOU can be a part of. The people of Haiti need help, simply put. The thought of giving $26 can go so far in a place where most people might make $30 a month.
So, here it is – I need a street team or something. If you’d be interested in helping out by pushing for support – getting your class, group, church, whatever to take a look at MFM and say, “Yeah, we’ll support! We’ll donate a one time gift of $x or we’ll send $x for every mile.” The thing is, there are hundreds of things you can do to help out, and I really need you.
One single youth pastor in Indiana can do something for sure. I can send letters to people I know begging for money. I can send copies of the video to churches to try to stir their hearts. I can post pictures on a website, email emotional pictures to people to stir their heart strings…but imagine how much a single youth pastor in Indiana…and you can accomplish. This isn’t for our boasting, but it is for the glory of the Lord. So I am begging and pleading with you to email me if you can help out. I have a packet ready I can email you and you can print off. I have pictures and video waiting to enter the doors of your church or organization to stir the hearts of God’s people.
I’m no marketing professional. I don’t have a clue how to bring attention to Run 4 Haiti. A blog – check. A facebook group – check. I hate the thought of personally approaching people and asking for money, but that’s about the only thing I know to do. I love Haiti. I love raising money for Haiti. I love running. I hate marketing. Anyone have any ideas about how to draw people on board? How do you draw people to join your cause, either financially or to actually run?
Just asking questions and seriously looking for answers. No idea is wrong! Help me out!
Posted by mrakers 
But as I got to our compound in Saut d’Eau – 45 miles north, it hit me why. There is a need. There are people that must help. But, the answer is not the typical American answer of “throw money at it.” Instead, careful thought and consideration must be taken on how to help friends in Haiti.
Posted by mrakers 
Posted by mrakers 
