Cost of rent: $16 a month.
In-country travel (i.e. taxis and donkey carts): $30 a month.
Before I moved overseas to live in a poor Muslim community, my team leader sent me an itemized list of living expenses to help me figure out how much I’d need to raise every month.
Unfortunately, his list was a little outdated. It didn’t reflect slight increases to costs of living in recent years. Nor could it have predicted how exchange rates would nosedive in my first year on the field.
I arrived on the field fully funded—according to my budget. But soon I discovered that my monthly paycheck couldn’t cover my real expenses. I wrote my support team and asked them to consider increasing their support or giving a special financial gift.
Workers face unexpected financial needs from time to time. This isn’t uncommon. Medical emergencies, unstable economies, visa problems, changes in assignment or location—all these create financial stress for workers.
Financial responsibilities also change from one stage of life to the next. Many young workers start their missionary careers with no plans to contribute toward retirement or future children’s education, for example.
Some donors commit to increasing their monthly gift by 5% every year. If you haven’t increased your support in several years, consider doing so today. Your additional giving may be the answer to an unexpected funding need.
To increase your support, visit FrontiersUSA.org and click on MyFrontier. Log in to your account (or sign up for an account). Hover over MyFrontier, then click My Donations where you can adjust your monthly giving. Alternatively, call Partner Impact at 1-800-462-8436.