We are writing to let you know about a change in our financial situation and some upcoming needs that we are praying about. As most of you know, God has chosen to support us through a combination of funds from Dave’s business in the USA as well as regular monthly supporters. Our total monthly budget (excluding travel and other larger items like a major car repair) is about $3,000 per month.
Here’s how our support has looked like in the past:
- ⅔ from Dave’s IT business in the US
- ⅓ from supporters
- Of this ⅓ of our monthly budget, $450 comes from two churches with the other $550 or so coming from 10-12 individual or family donors monthly (thank you to each of you!).
Since last year, Dave’s business has slowed down a lot (message us if you’d like more info on that). He and his business partner are working on new ways to generate business, but are having to “re-tool,” which takes time. Therefore, Dave’s business income has declined substantially. There is now a gap of at least $1000 per month in our income now as compared to years past. We consider what Paul tells the Philippians in this situation:
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phil 4:11-13
So what do we do about this decline in income? We have specifically been praying for the last six months that God would show us what it means to be brought low in this context and that God would give us contentment no matter our financial circumstances. He has answered these prayers and we will continue to pray them. Now that we feel we have peace with these prayers, specifically, we feel released to make this need known to our friends, family, and supporters. We know that many of you reading this have also had reductions in income in the last years and that there is nothing special about us that would make us immune from needing to do more with less when most families have to do that from time to time. This resource has been very helpful as we have wrestled through the topic of missionaries asking for support or “fundraising.” Feel free to write if you’d like to know more about the process of us praying about this and now feeling released to make this need known to our friends, family, and supporters.
Aside from our monthly budget shortfall of about $1000 per month right now, we have some additional expenses coming up in the next few months that we want to make you aware of. We plan to go to Nashville in late July for a time of refreshment, rest, and quality time with Mariah and her husband, Nate, as well as with Ben. What?!! Yes, we will be empty nesters! Ben will be moving to Nashville in June to work and perhaps consider studying at a later time. A large part of why we’re going to Nashville for an extended visit is to help smooth Ben’s transition back to the U.S. We will have the following estimated additional expenses this year:
- Airline tickets -$2,000
- Housing – $2,000
- Other transportation costs – $1,000.
We want to emphasize that we are not considering leaving the field. We still feel called to our work here at Loma de Luz. We simply want to go to Nashville for about 10-12 weeks this fall to spend time with our kids and rest from our work here in the field. We are just so thankful for God’s continuing provision for us and we’ve seen HIS FAITHFULNESS over and over again. We KNOW that God will provide and we are always striving to be content. We thank each and every person reading for your love and support and prayers over the years!
You can donate here: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=b5327a
Or you can send a check to:
CHSC (Giving for Dave and Marinajo Fields)
PO Box 132
Fruitvale TX 75127