Japan!

[PrincessZelda]

So, I have an opportunity to go on a missions trip to Japan this summer. I'm really excited about it, and I think it'd be a great opportunity for me.

However... There are some things that are kind of in the way. First of all, I need to raise $5,000 by July, and I don't even have a job at the moment. So that's going to be pretty difficult... But I guess I just need to get really organized with fundraisers and such.

The only other thing that's really keeping me from going in the church I help out with now. I am one of the few sponsors that helps out with my church's youth group, and the number of sponsors keeps on getting fewer and fewer. There's only one other female sponsor aside from me... And the main reason this would be such a big problem is that the youth group goes on a lot of trips during the summer, and so they need to have female sponsors to be with the girls for sleeping arrangements to keep track of them.

Soo... I'm still unsure about whether or not I'm going. I really want to go, but I'm going to be leaving the youth group shorthanded. I'm also going to miss the kids I help out with, and a lot of them are graduating and leaving soon after I get back, so I'll hardly get to spend any time with them. But then, I might not get the opportunity to go back to Japan very soon again.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated. If you could pray for me also, that would be great.

[Mr. Rogers]

The best thing to do is to write a friendly support letter and send it out to literally everyone you know. Explain an overview of what you will be doing and your personal expectations for it. Don't think too hard, just keep it friendly. Ask for support at the end. Give people a goal. Don't just say, "I need help". Say something like, "If you can give this one time gift or if you can commity to $x.xx per month". It's always good to give people a goal. A lot of people want to help, but you need to give them something to do or something to commit to.

When I went to Japan, I freaked out about being able to get the money. I was about 2 months or so away (I don't remember exactly) and still had literally nothing. I was complaining to God about it and God shut me up and said, "I can't believe you think I wouldn't come through for you"; which pretty much ending my complaining. I got all the money I needed and about $700 extra. I was able to give the extra money to a new missionary family so they could also get help. I was blessed with everything I needed and it overflowed to someone else, too.

Do everything you can. Be organized. Be on time. And let God do what only He can. You'll be fine.

[animeguild53]

i'll be praying. [Matthew 6:33]

GOD provides..

[agasfas]

After visiting Japan twice I can definitely see the great need for people ministering and spreading the Word over there. Financially speaking I can definitely see how funding the trip will be difficult w/o a job. Aside from getting sponsors.... Although not the greatest idea, maybe if you get a job early next year and save non-stop, you may be able to pay most of the trip off and then perhaps charge the remaining portion or ask your parents for help.

But if you feel that this trip would/may put you in a financially bad situation then perhaps it may be the Lord's way of telling you this year may not be the best timing for you. Financially speaking.

I hope things work out for you because it would be a great experience to do missionary work in Japan. Continue to be patient, whether or not your go on a mission trip this July, or any other time, God has a plan for you. I will be praying for you.

[PrincessZelda]

Thanks, everyone!

And I have actually been looking for a job the last few months. It's just hard to get hired right now by anyone, lol. But I actually might be getting a job soon at my sister-in-law's work. Even so, it's not really a matter of not having a job, because I probably still wouldn't be able to make that much money from just my work. So either way, I'm still going to have to do a lot of other fund raising...

I guess it's just a matter of getting everything together and raising the money. Other than that, it's actually been seeming like everything is lining up well that, as long as I raise the money, I will be able to go.

I guess if I'm really mean to go, I'll be able to raise the money somehow... @_@

[Mithrandir]

I guess if I'm really mean to go, I'll be able to raise the money somehow... @_@

Whatever you do, don't give up. I'm positive you can raise the money if you keep that goal as a focus.

[PrincessZelda]

Thanks! I really hope I can...

It looks like now all that stands in the way of me going to Japan is the money. I'm sending in all my paper work soon, and then it'll just be a matter of raising all of the money in time... O_O

But thanks for the prayers, everyone. I really hope that I can go do this.