"GoFundMe" What's This All About

Some of you have received emails or seen on Facebook Alpha and my GoFundMe campaign. So what is this campaign?

Alpha and I are not currently apart of a mission organization, thus we cannot raise support the traditional way through an organization's office. The school I work for pays a small living salary but cannot accept donations on our behalf. The living salary provided gives us an apartment (utilities not included) and about $400 per month. Now most things in Dhaka are cheap! :)...except food :(. It is called a "living" salary because that is all it provides, enough to live on, and two people on one person's living salary is tight! We aren't able to do anything more then live month to month and trust that the Lord will provide and God has been providing in amazing ways!

But now we are left in a dilemma as we do not have enough money to live and save for visas, plane tickets and university. If you have been following my other posts you may already know that we have many decisions ahead of us whether to go to the USA this year (if Alpha get accepted to university) or to stay and work another year at my school (which we don't know if that is possible as my contract ends in June). If we go this year it will be purely on faith that God will provide as we have depleted our savings because of our "living" salary situation. And if we stay finances are not much brighter. Alpha would have to have a job. He has applied to my school but we have not heard back yet and there are limited to no jobs in Dhaka for someone with a bachelors degree. Minimum they usually require a Masters due to the enormous population (hence us want to go to the States for his Masters). 

Alpha and I feel that our home and calling is here in Bangladesh. We want to be fully prepared to do ministry here for the Lord. Alpha needs his Master's of Theology to have credibility in the Christian community here. 

Enter 'GoFundMe'. GoFundMe allows us to raise money all over the world and access it through my American account. All the money we raise will go directly to visas, plane tickets and tuition. Alpha and I are committed to stretching our salary here so that we can live on what we make so we can save everything donated and use it for furthering God's kingdom in Bangladesh through Alpha's education. 

We would be so blessed if you would be willing to come along side us in a sponsor/partnership. You can click the link to the side if you would like to make a donation and please subscribe to this blog at the top by entering your email address so that we can keep you up to date on all the happenings and changes in our lives. 

Here is a break down of the amount we are asking for at this time:

$3000 will cover Alpha's visa fees, applications etc

$4000 will cover our plane tickets to Germany then the USA (We are happy to take miles if you would rather!)

$18000 will cover the first year of tuition and help with living expenses as Emily is working and Alpha is studying (Due to visas Alpha will not be allowed to work in the US, until he gets his permanent residency). 

Thank you for prayerfully considering becoming a part of our team and ministry family!

With thankful hearts,

Emily and Alpha

Where is the Yellow Brick Road?

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

How do I start? Currently, I have no answers for you in regards to my previous post. Wouldn't it be nice if God had a Yellow brick road we could follow or neon flashing lights that say "THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY"? Right now we are still waiting to hear if Alpha has been accepted to university in the USA to pursue his Master of Theology. A lot of things still need to come together to make it happen this year so if not this year then next year God willing. We received an interesting email from one of the universities and though we are trying not to get our hopes up, it was very encouraging. So please pray with us that if God still wants us in the States this year He paves the way with a clear road!

We are also waiting to hear if I will be able to stay at my school (if we cannot go to the US) as my contract is finished at the end of June. Alpha has also applied to work at my school because we cannot live another year on one salary and even with two it will not be enough to save for his university, plane tickets and visas. Everything is up in the air and at times it is hard to trust the words of Jeremiah 29:11 (For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans for good and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.) BUT we ARE trusting that the Lord does have a plan, an amazing plan, so that we can continue to work for Him and His kingdom here in Bangladesh. 

We did get an amazing answer to prayer for this summer though. I have a private English student and Alpha teaches private guitar lessons, we both were praying for more students to fill our summer, as we need the extra money for Alpha's visa and university. Well, God has answered in a big way! I mentioned to my student's parents that I would like more students if they knew of anyone looking and within that hour lesson they had already gotten my 3 students and 10 more lessons a week and now I am up to 25 lessons a week and 6 new students for the summer!! They got Alpha an additional 2 students as well!!!! We feel so blessed that they were so willing to sit and call their friends for an hour to get me and Alpha the extra jobs. Thank you Jesus!

Please continue to join us in prayer as the future is so uncertain and we truly want to do what God calls us to do. 

A Plea For Prayer.... A Grand Adventure Awaits!

I was reading in my Bible about Abram and Sarai, when God asked them to pack up everything they owned and follow His leading. They had no idea where they were going to end up. All they had were God's promises to hold onto and that was enough for them. They faced trials, like drought that sent them to Egypt, and then an angry Pharaoh, who sent them back to the promised land. But through it all God blessed Abram abundantly, making him wealthy, rich in livestock and servants, as well as faith. If faith in God's promises was enough for Abram and Sarai, it is enough for Alpha and I.

As the end of the school year approaches rapidly, Alpha and I have been given some tough choices to make and have been asked to take a great lap of faith.

God willing, we will be moving back to the USofA in August so Alpha can attend a Master of Theology program. Where you might ask? That is a good question! We have applied to Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, but before he can be accepted Alpha needs to pass a TOFEL (English) exam. He has been studying, but cannot take the exam in Dhaka as they do not offer it very often in Bangladesh. I have confidence in my husband and his English, but it is still stressful and overwhelming for him. Once we find an exam and he passes and is accepted we need to start the visa process, which is overwhelming in and of itself. We are also praying that one of the schools might be will to waive the exam requirement!

On the way to California or Chicago we would like to make stops in Germany, Chicago and Denver/Loveland, CO area and visit friends and family. I will email exact dates to those of you in those areas so we can stop and see you!

 So this is my

PLEA FOR PRAYER

1. Alpha passes his TOFEL and is accepted to University or BETTER YET they waive the exam!!!!

2. God provides the Airplane tickets to the above places

3. That we will be able to connect with friends in each city

4. God will provide a car and places/stay to live while we travel 

5. Alpha will not be overwhelmed by the move, meeting so many new people and starting university

6. A full-time job for Emily in the school's area (with benefits!)

7. VISAS! The process can be long and expensive, pray it goes fast and does not cost too much.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for harm, plans to give you a hope and a future. 

Jeremiah 29:11

Alpha and I are holding tightly to these two verses as we take this leap of faith into the unknown.

Many more flights to come... the adventure awaits!

Our hearts desire is to return to Bangladesh and start a full time music ministry, but to do this Alpha requires his master's degree, thus we are relying on God as we prepare for the transition from one culture to another. Your prayers and loving support mean the world to us. Thank you for keeping us in your hearts.