Have you heard of Gospel for Asia? It is a great organization that gives 100% of the money you send them to the kids or missionary you sponsor. A couple we know sponsor a few kids and a couple missionaries. When we were at their house one day I really felt like that would be a good thing for our family to do. I was also very interested in doing something that would get my kids out of the box of life they live in. I want them to have a heart for missions and those who are in need. I prayed about it and talked to Jeff and we decided GFA would be a great way for us to help .
I began to pray and ask the Lord for a way for the kids to be part of this and a plan began to stir. I decided the kids would pick a child and then work for the money that this child needed each month.
I told the kids about my idea and how I was planning on them taking care of this child. They didn't say much. I told them that each sponsor pays $28 a month and they would each have to work for $7 a month to pay for the child's needs. Then I sat them around the computer and we watched some video clips on their website. I prayed with the kids and we proceeded to find a child that they felt led to care for. After seeing the videos and then all the kids pictures they begged for us to sponsor 2 kids. A boy and a girl. The girls would earn money for the girl and the boys for the boy. I informed them that that would mean double the work and each kid would have to work for $14 a month. They didn't mind and were happy to do it. The boys chose a 12 yr old boy named Ravi and the girls an 8 yr old girl named Akhila. We talked about how important it was for them to get the money and that the kids were counting on them and to pray for the child each day.
Here is where my plan had to come into play. I decided it would be more effective if they actually saw the money they worked for. I went to the bank and got $56 (actually $60, but we only needed $56) in singles. I got six envelopes. I wrote each of the kids names on the envelopes including the one we sponsor. I put 14 singles in each of my kids envelopes. As they work and earn a dollar it goes into the sponsored child's envelope. I write a check for GFA (it actually goes on a credit card and so I write the check to the credit card company). At the first of the next month all the singles go back into the child's envelope and we start over.
I included pictures. I am a visual learner
I also decided that I needed to come up with a list of jobs that could be done to earn the money. I figured the kids would be coming to me asking what they could do to earn their dollars. And well I have learned a child's timing is not always the best. i.e. In the middle of me making dinner, while I am in shower, while we are rushing to get somewhere etc....Then I would have to think of things off the top of my head and well these days I am not the quickest thinker. I have a 2 page list so far on a pad of paper on my desk. They have been told that the list stays there and is available for ideas on how they could earn their dollars.
Things on the list include:
folding 20 items of laundry, cleaning the bathroom, emptying the bathroom and laundry room garbage, vacuum the dining room (we have carpet in our dining room obviously they didn't have kids when they thought of that idea), put shoes by the door away, hang up all the coats (they are often laying around on chairs or thrown on the bottom of the closet), etc....
The kids were concerned about the kids we didn't chose. If any of you readers feel like the Lord is calling you to sponsor a child please let us know. The kids would be so happy to know more kids were picked. I am excited to see how the Lord is going to work in our family as we reach out to His children.
One of the verses that came to me when I was praying was in Matthew 25.
Matthew 25:31-40 31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
We sent money at Christmas time with a list of what items the boys wanted it spent on. They had to choose the best way to reach the most people. I had forgotten about adopting a child until I read your blog. I will have to test the waters and see if the boys will want to do this. They already have two jobs a day required. I think we could change the structure and put some of their earnings back for a child. Thanks for the reminder.
Yes, oh yes I'm familiar with GFA. I believe it to be a top notch mission to support. One time our homeschool group had a bike-a-thon. They took pledges on how many miles they could ride and all of the money went to GFA to buy a bike for a missionary! They loved it.
What a fabulous idea! INot just supporting the kids as a family but taking it even further & having your kids "earn" the money to do so. I really like your envelopes to make the whole thing more tangible. We used to support Gospel for Asia way back when... late 80's/early 90's, I think. I remember having my oldest do some scripture memory to "earn" money to send-- I think it was to GFA, tho it may have been a different organization.
I am so in love with Jesus and am seeking to know Him more each day. I am a wife to Jeff and Mommy to 6 children (Bailey 9, Cameron & Collin 8, Kiley 5, Carter 3 and Brayden born 9/30/09). My house is often crazy, but always full of love. This blog is a story of my adventures, God's mercy and grace in my life, and funny days that aren't always very funny at first.
), put shoes by the door away, hang up all the coats (they are often laying around on chairs or thrown on the bottom of the closet), etc....
