second support letter

Betsy Barfield Update No. 2, June 30, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

I know I just wrote most of you a week ago but I am working and praying toward getting to Manila by August 8, so I have to work and communicate aggressively.

This week I caught up with my fellow Kindergarten teacher at FAITH (Sam Zipp) to know what I will need to bring, to refine my support raising budget, and the like. As a result, my monthly support goal is $1500/month and I will need to raise $3000 in one-time support for airfare, etc.

FAITH Academy (www.faith.edu.ph) is designed primarily to meet the needs of missionary families who can’t take their children to the field by providing the students a quality education and support through the dorms and dorm parents. By supporting me, you not only allow me to minister to these children but also allow the work of the parents to go forth. There are 168 different Christian organizations represented at Faith Academy, including Wycliffe Bible Translators, Campus Crusade for Christ, World Vision International, Action International Ministries, to name only a few. Faith Academy has over 500 students with at least two sections per grade level.

First Love International Ministries (www.firstloveinternational.com) will be my mission sending agency. Your contributions will be tax deductible with First Love taking only 5% of the contributions for their administrative support.

This week I have started my support raising in earnest by beginning the challenging job of getting on the phone. This may sound easy but it is not (actually the dialing is the hard part; talking to you is fun). While I have just started, so far I have seen God raise up 16% of the total I need already! In order to book my plane ticket I need to reach 80%. I am hoping to get this done in the coming three weeks!

I have enclosed a pledge card and envelope for your monthly donation or one time gift. Your monthly gift will be especially helpful to me to reach the goal I need for living, ministry, and professional expenses. While you should send these directly to First Love, I need to know of your contributions and pledges so I know when I can book my plane ticket and when I can go! So please call me or email me of your decision. Your prompt decision is appreciated.

If you know of others who might be interested in supporting this ministry, I would appreciate having them as references as I likely will need to draw on others that I do not yet know.

I have started a blog that I will use to keep you updated regularly about my support raising and prayer requests. Please visit it at: www.betsybarfield.wordpress.com.

Thanks so much!

Betsy Barfield

betsy.barfield@gmail.com

first support letter

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, I graduated this May with a degree in Elementary Education from MidAmerica Nazarene University. This spring, I have been spending time seeking God’s direction for where to teach the coming school year. I have always had the desire to go overseas, but I did not know if this year would be the right time. God has blessed me with so much: my wonderful supportive family, my health, my abilities, graduating from college free of debt, etc. As a result, I desire to serve Him with what I do in my life.

In April, as I was considering these things, my church’s college group was watching a video series, “That the World May Know.” After watching a video on the Old Testament concept of first fruits, we discussed how we, as college students and graduates, can give of our first fruits to God. For many, this is by working for His glory and giving of our first paychecks to His work as our first fruit. For others, our first fruits to Him will be in WHAT we do. That day I decided I was ready and willing to go overseas to use the first fruits of my career for His service.

After looking at several options, I have accepted a position to teach Kindergarten at Faith Academy, located in Manila, Philippines. Faith Academy is an international Christian school for children of missionaries working in Asia. Faith Academy’s main purpose is “equipping students to be Christ-like, life-long learners.” In teaching these missionary kids I will also be enabling the gospel to spread through their parents. You can find out more information about this school online at www.faith.edu.ph.

Another ministry closely connected with Faith Academy (and located ¼ mile away) is Kids International Ministries. This ministry has opened an orphanage serving impoverished children by seeking to meet their educational, physical, spiritual, and mental needs. As I will teach at Faith Academy I will also have an opportunity to assist with this ministry.

To keep the cost to missionaries to a minimum, the staff at Faith Academy raise their financial support. I need to raise approximately $2000 onetime and $1200 of monthly support in the coming weeks so I can join the new staff orientation beginning August 7^th.

I would greatly appreciate your prayers and I also would ask you to consider supporting the start of my teaching career in this ministry. I will be contacting you by phone in the coming weeks to see if you would want to be part of my support team and if you know of someone else that would be interested in supporting me in this ministry.

Thanks!

Betsy Barfield