I’ll just get right to the point: we started a community fund while we were home.
Officially, we have an additional bank account labeled “Community Fund.”
We didn’t really have plans for this: all of our work with our community has been day-by-day and situation-by-situation. I am usually sitting in the waiting room hoping that I have enough cash in my purse to pay for this visit; we simply purchase fruit and tea for the neighborhood out of our own food budget; when I find toys I think would be great for the kids, we purchase them.
This has been a very wonderful stage of seeing God provide and not necessarily counting where the numbers add up, but seeing them add up beautifully. I wouldn’t trade this stage for anything.
But I will welcome the next stage.
We were given two very generous donations for our community specifically. They asked for it to go toward the medical needs and other opportunities within the community. Since we weren’t needing to spend it right away, we weren’t sure where to put it and how to keep it separated for when it was most needed.
So we started another account, allowing us to separate out money for the community. We can have a little cushion to pick up medical expenses or cover Christmas dinners. We can access funds for the community as needs arise, aside from our own personal rent, food, & transportation needs.
Of all the friendships and opportunities we love in Mae Sot, our neighborhood has been missed the most. They hold a very special place in our hearts and have been at the forefront of so many prayers. It is encouraging to see God break our hearts for this community and then provide above and beyond our imagination.
He is good. And we so thankful that he is providing.
And on that note, I’ll include the video Stephen made to capture our little collective.
Each time I see that, I am so ready to be back. I am so ready to hear “Stephen! Kelli!” at our front door, to have dirty little hands grabbing my arm and tanaka-covered faces rubbing up against my shirt.
I am ready for that mess to be normal again.
And I’m so thankful to see God provide for that normal to continue.
I will note here that if you would like to give directly to the community fund, we would love to make that possible for you! We aren’t aiming to raise funds for anything in particular right now, but send us an email at stephen.spurlock@partnersworld.org if you would like more information.