Happy summer! Here in
Denver, we had a very late winter; our last blizzard was on May 1st! But spring
has sprung and there are signs of summer all around! As a few of my major
commitments wind down, I'm getting ready to thoroughly enjoy this last CO
summer. I hope you and yours have an amazing summer as well!
Only 3 Months Left Until My Departure!
Everything is getting very real. In three months I will be boarding a
plane to Bolivia, with the mindset of making it my new and long term home.
While my heart aches to be leaving my family and friends and my beloved
Colorado, I am confident that the future will hold even greater things!
Three months may seem far off to some of you, but in reality it's just around
the corner and there is so much to do! I would like to give you a quick update
on one of the biggest things - my ministry fundraising. Currently, donations
have come in to cover about 66% of my $4500 start-up costs.
But I have less
than 10% of the monthly commitments I need to cover my $1500 monthly
budget. As you can see, I have a long way to go! Would you consider joining my
ministry team as a monthly financial partner?
I have already reserved my spot in language school, which is scheduled to start
at the beginning of September! But in order to make it to language school, I
will need to buy plane tickets and apply for my visa. I am hoping to submit my
paperwork for my visa during my upcoming trip to LA (June 7-17), but I will
need plane tickets first, and I can't do any of this until all of my
$4500 start-up costs are raised! But
the more urgent need is to build up my long term monthly supporter base.A
few of you have told me that you want to become financial partners, but have
yet to submit your donation. If you have been waiting until my departure gets
closer or have simply forgotten to donate, please don't wait any longer! And if
you have submitted a donation, but haven't received a "thank you"
from me, please let me know, because this means it has not shown up in my
account.
If you would like to give, follow these easy steps:
1 - Visit www.wordmadeflesh.org/support/give
2 - Select your preferred donation method (credit card, check, or auto
withdrawal)
3 - Designate your gift for "Staff Ali Fraze"
I am planning to focus much more on fundraising in the next couple of months. I
would love to sit down with you and tell you more about the ministry of Word Made Flesh Bolivia and how you can get involved! If you
have a minute, please watch this short
video about the
ministry. I am trying to individually contact many of you about becoming
monthly ministry partners, but if you haven't heard from me yet and would like
to initiate this conversation, please be my guest!
While at times I feel overwhelmed in the face of this fundraising challenge, I
am also feeling very hopeful. I am confident that the Lord has given me this
calling to Bolivia and that he will provide the means to get me there. Please
join me in praying for God's favor and provision.
Thank you for your faithful partnership over the years! Your
friendship is such a blessing to me!
Learning to trust,
Ali Fraze
It has been a very busy couple of months. I just finished my last Perspectives class (15-week world missions course), and I'm working on finishing my final project. I also reconnected with some dance friends to perform a couple of Bollywood dance performances in the Denver area. We spent many hours in rehearsal learning and perfecting the steps, but the final result was worth all the sweat and blisters! Check out one of our performances here! And finally, I've been working as a full time nanny for a one-year-old baby. It has been really awesome to see him grow up in so many ways, but our time is coming to a close as his teacher parents prepare to move the family to Jordan for a new teaching opportunity. As all of these areas of my life wind down for the summer, I am excited to dedicate more time to fundraising, spending time with family, and enjoying the Colorado outdoors!
As I continue down this path towards ministry in Bolivia, I find myself challenged in new ways and yet full of gratitude. Much of this process is very new to me and God has been faithful to lead me one small step at a time. Following a strong call to work among the poor in Bolivia, God has led me to the ministry of Word Made Flesh, provided a community for me in Bolivia, and laid out the necessary steps to make my way to Bolivia in September. I now find myself at the place of fundraising - the step I was most nervous about. I have raised money several times in the past, but all for short term commitments. In a way, raising money for my salary and long-term calling to Bolivia is scary but also very exciting. Instead of asking for one quick donation, I am asking for a long-term partnership. The mission God has given me requires that He also raise up a community of ministry partners to journey with me on this new path.
Without reservation and with much excitement, I humbly ask for your partnership. Would you consider giving towards my ministry in Bolivia? While I have a few upfront costs (airline ticket, visa, language school), I would be honored if you would consider becoming a monthly supporter. I am totally dependent on the generosity of the Father to provide for all of my needs, but I am confident that he will use the love and generosity of those in my life to create a mutual community of gratitude. I believe God is calling us to a new thing through our collaboration in bringing forth the Kingdom of God! It would be such a blessing to be able to share the stories of ministry with you - the successes, failures, challenges, and joys. God is doing a mighty work in Bolivia, bringing about freedom and new life to those leaving the sex trade as well as to those of us acting on his behalf.
If the Lord is moving you to give, or if you simply want to learn more, please let me know! I would love to meet with each supporter personally to share more of the mission and vision that God has given me and begin to create a new and deeper friendship with you. I would like to invite you to invest yourself through the resources God has given you - your energy, your prayers, and your money - in this work to which God has called me.
Here's how you can donate:
1 - Visit the WMF giving page on their website:
http://www.wordmadeflesh.org/support/give/
2 - Select your preferred giving method and be sure to designate your gift for "Staff Ali Fraze"
**If you're interested in the specifics, I have settled on a monthly budget of $1,500, about half of which will cover my in-country expenses. My six weeks of language school will cost around $1,500, as will my plane ticket out there. I'd love to provide a further breakdown of my expenses if you are curious. Just ask!**
Thank you for your friendship and partnership! I am already overwhelmed with gratitude for the ways God has and will continue to provide for all of my needs. I hope to hear from you soon and begin a more profound partnership in ministry for many years to come. REMEMBER: If you decide to give, please let me know so that I can be in touch! Thank you for your generosity and love!
"...whoever sows generously will also reap generously... God loves a cheerful giver... You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God... Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
With much gratitude,
Ali Fraze
