Fundraising Update

Hi Friends!

I just wanted to update you all on my fundraising progress for my upcoming commitment in Bolivia. My departure date is set for July 19, just over 2 weeks from now. It was exciting to hear today that a family in El Alto, Bolivia has invited me into their home for the duration of my stay! It still feels surreal that I will be back in Bolivia in a matter of weeks. It still feels like there is much to do before my departure. And there is still much to do in the way of fundraising. But within all of this I am doing my best to hang onto hope and trust the Lord to provide for all of my needs, even the seemingly insignificant ones.

As far as fundraising goes... I am up to about 25% of my total goal. It's easy to look at this number and get a little discouraged. But what do I have to fear? God has always proven to be faithful and has provided for my needs in good times and bad. Perhaps this lack of funds is a continuation of the lessons God brought up for me over and over again during the internship in LA. There was definitely a theme throughout the internship of giving up control to Him and learning not to rely on my own skills, talents, and privilege to get by in life. It's a tough lesson. I've never been without, never experienced great need. And this seems to be part of the problem... my track record in life makes it easy to be tempted to believe that all the abundance in my life is my own doing. This can result in an attitude of selfishness and an individualistic outlook on finances.

I pray that the Lord will rid me of this brokenness. It's not going to happen overnight, but I'm hoping that my faith will grow little by little until lacking a few thousand dollars won't seem like a big deal at all because I know that God will care for me in one way or another and is capable of great miracles, beyond my imagination.

I have also begun to pray about whether or not God is asking me to provide a significant chunk of the finances for this trip. Even after a couple years of unemployment/underemployment, I am holding onto a few thousand dollars in my savings account. It feels good to have this safety net. It seems smart to have something to fall back on. But can it be called faith if I rely so much on my own riches? I don't think that God calls all of us to live with $0 in our bank accounts, but I am convicted to re-examine and re-prioritize my finances as I continue to pursue a call to the poorest of the poor. Please pray with me for clarity and humility in this season.

If you would like to partner with me financially to help me reach my goal of $3800, your gifts would be a great blessing to me. You can contact me for more information or see the previous post for instructions on how to donate. Thank you so much, friends. I love you and cherish you greatly.

Update Letter - June 2012

On Sunday, my class and I were commissioned out of the internship and into the rest of life! I can't believe it's been almost 2 years and it's all over now! It has been an absolutely incredible experience. Some of the highlights of the internship have been experiencing great community on the team, learning to overcome fear and step out in fath, naming and practicing my gifts and talents, growing in teaching and authority, and becoming more secure in my identity as God's beloved daughter. Praise the Lord! It's hard to summarize this amazing 2-year experience, but I have posted a much more detailed version on my blog if you're interested in the specifics. You can find it here!

And you might be asking yourself, what's next for Ali? Well, in a couple of weeks I will be moving back to Colorado with my parents. And then a couple of weeks later I will be heading back to Bolivia! I am going to spend a couple of months with one of the ministries that I visited during my exploratory trip last November - Word Made Flesh. I will be living in a poor area of El Alto, volunteering at the Word Made Flesh drop-in center for women in prostitution, potentially volunteering with other ministries among the poor, and growing in discipleship alongside the Word Made Flesh staff team. This will be an extended exploration of the Word Made Flesh ministry in Bolivia and a time to discern a longer commitment. I will be leaving mid-July and have much to prepare before boarding the plane. Among the many preparations, I would love to form a team of prayer warriors for this journey. Please email me if you would like to commit to praying for me. I will also need to raise money to cover my expenses, which I anticipate to be around $3,000. If you are able to give financially to this trip, please follow the below instructions:

1 - Give via Credit Card: Go to www.wordmadeflesh.org and click on the "Donate" link in the bottom left corner of the page. In the "Use my Donation For" box, enter "Alison Fraze".
2 - Give via Check, by sending to:
            Word Made Flesh
            P.O. BOX 70
            Omaha, NE 68101
Write "Alison Fraze" in the memo line of the check or include a separate piece of paper with my name on it.

I don't know what the future holds, but I'm excited to continue down the path of discernment and pursue God's will for my life. I am very grateful for your partnership throughout my time in Los Angeles and into the future. Blessings! 

Prayer Requests:

- Good time of fun and goodbyes here in Los Angeles
- Good time with my family before heading to Bolivia
- Logistics of the move to Colorado and Bolivia
- Peace and faith as I move into a new season
- Financial provision for my time in Bolivia
- Continued security in my identity as Christ's beloved