August Update

Hey friends!

I am on a Facebook break for a couple of weeks, so for the next couple weeks this will be my primary Internet way of keeping you all informed. Don't worry, I shall return to the world of social networking! :)

It is now August, which was my original deployment month goal, and I am at 71% and climbing! I am not discouraged to not be deploying this month, as I am still very close! It's a relatively slow climb right now, but I've been told this is normal. I am excitedly anticipating reaching 80%, which is when I will finally begin conversations about my actual location of ministry! The way that MCYM/Young Life Military places its staff is through contracts with military bases. Once I reach 80%, they will be able to more accurately pinpoint the date I will be 100% funded and ready to go, and can match me with an anticipated open contract. I know that is the #1 question that all of you want to know the answer to, and believe me, I do too and will be letting you know as soon as I know!

Right now I have 86% of my start-up costs, which is exciting! This means that I am now focusing on finding donors who would like to partner with me monthly or annually in making ministry happen for military teens! Please be in prayer if you are not a donor, or have given a one-time gift, whether God could be calling you to be a longer-term partner in this ministry!

There are many, many teenagers out there right now waiting for me to show them Christ's love in the midst of whatever they are dealing with in their lives. I need your help to make this happen as quickly as possible!

If you would like to donate monthly at $25, $50, $75, or $100 or more or give an annual gift please send checks written to Young Life with X9138/Reisinger in the memo line to:

Laura Reisinger

54 N. Bayshore Dr.

Frederica, DE 19946

or give a recurring gift online at http://giving.younglife.org where you can designate my staff area's ministry of X9138/Reisinger

To all my current donors, I am so thankful for your generosity and support! I just wanted to let you all know that your giving has contributed to my start-up costs immensely and that we are a TEAM going over to Europe, so get excited for all the great things God is going to do with your finances in the lives of military teenagers. You are awesome. If you know anyone at all who may be interested in giving to this ministry, PLEASE call or email me and let me know.

Keep praying for God's provision for the final 29%!

In Him,

Laura

43%, budget changes, and moving home!

Hey guys!

I know it's been awhile since I've updated; lots of things have been going on!

I'm moving back home to Delaware exactly 3 weeks from today! I decided this was the best choice because my lease ends in the month of May and I do not want to do anymore moving than I have to. In order to live in Chattanooga I have had to work almost full-time to pay rent and other bills. Living at home I won't have those expenses, so I won't need a job, so I will be able to fundraise full-time! I also want to spend my last few months in the states with family and friends I hardly get to see anymore.

The last few weeks have been insanely packed with getting ready for this move as well as finishing up with my assignments from New Staff Training. I sent everything I own that I can't fit in my station wagon up with another friend who moved from Chattanooga to Delaware, so packing is completely done and I can focus on the last of my fundraising here and my goodbyes.

I am planning on having some of my Young Life musician friends here play a benefit show for me that will double as a going away party. I'm looking forward to that!

There have been some changes in my budget recently. This is because I decided not to take my Young Life training classes for credit at a seminary. I just do not know for sure that I will complete a degree or that it will be essential for a future job that I will want, so I feel that I should just finish paying off my student loans from my undergrad degree and not ask donors to give towards yet more schooling. That took out about $1,200 of my one-time needs. Additionally, I am not making an advance trip. There was $1,000 in my budget for this, so that has been subtracted as well.

Because my first year on the field will be the fiscal year of 2010-2011 at this point, my budget has also increased slightly to accommodate the increase in benefits cost. So after all of this math, here is my most recent budget:

Annual: $33,473 / Monthly: $2,790

One-time: $12,164

So far I have raised $14,280 of my annual budget and $5,090 of my one-time. Praise God! This puts me at 43%!

Prayer requests for these next 3 weeks would be:

-that I say goodbye to Chattanooga and all my friends here well

-the upcoming fundraising concert to come together and be successful

-safe travels to say goodbye to friends in the near area and have donor meetings

Also please pray for some other personal requests:

-the health of my friend Steven who is in a hospital in Philadelphia in critical condition with leukemia for the 2nd time and a bad infection

-the health of many friends at my home church in Delaware who are having major health issues at this time

Thank you all for your prayers, love and support!

The beginning of the adventure...

Hi, friends and family!

The last lines in one of my favorite movies, The Lord of the Rings, go a little something like this:

Frodo: Mordor... I hope the others find a safer road.
Sam: Strider'll look after them.
Frodo: I don't suppose we'll ever see them again.
Sam: We may yet, Mr. Frodo. We may.
Frodo: Sam... I'm glad you're with me.

I am making this blog to keep everyone updated on my support raising process and share prayer requests as well as information on how to support me financially! I'm glad you're with me.

As most of you already know, I am raising financial and prayer support to enter the mission field in (God willing) August 2010 for 3 years as an intern with Young Life Military (also known as Military Community Youth Ministries, or MCYM). I get really excited when I think about how God has shaped my life to lead me to this point, and I can't wait to take the next step to follow his call! I can't wait to go love on military brats in Europe who desperately need to know the consistent love of Jesus in an inconsistent environment.

This isn't something I'm able to do on my own, though. I need you to partner with me! God has given me the calling and ability to actually go over there for 3 years, but I don't have the financial ability. That's where you come in. You may not physically be able to move to Europe, but you can be part of God's kingdom work by contributing to my mission financially! In other words, I can't do it without you and you can't do it without me! I am convinced that the Lord blesses equally those who give financially to His work, as well as those who are in the field.

Right now I am still working with Young Life as a volunteer here in Northwest Georgia as I raise support, and I want to share stories about Young Life with you as well!

Keep checking back to this blog for more information, stories about how God is working, and specific prayer requests!

For right now, please be praying for the next 2 very busy crazy months:

-support letters that are going out and phone calls I will be making as well as meetings

-I'm going home on the 19th to Delaware and have many meetings with family and friends about supporting me!

-pre-training assignments that I have to complete before January!

-Cross-Cultural Orientation January 3-8 in Colorado Springs

-Young Life New Staff Training January 8-22 at Crooked Creek camp in Colorado

Thank you all!

If you haven't gotten a support letter packet from me yet, never fear, they are going out in shifts!