Most of you know that we are partner-missionaries with Christian Reformed World Missions working at Haven of Peace Academy. What this means is that we get a stipend from HOPAC to help cover housing, but the rest of our 'salary' we have to fund-raise for.
Over the past 2.5 years, we have only twice met our monthly budget. This means we've struggled to stay here, questioning if this year would be our last. In October, we shared this dilemma through our prayer letter and WOW. God has used so many people to affirm our call and make it possible for us to say:
WE ARE STAYING IN TANZANIA FOR ONE MORE YEAR!
I get a bit giddy just thinking of the amazing ways God has shown himself to us. Let me share with you how we've been blessed, affirmed and provided for:
* Our friend, Rachel, hosted a Trades of Hope fundraiser for us!
* A supporter came into a large chunk of money and donated $2000!
* We've added 3 new monthly supporters!
* We've had 4 supporters increase their giving!
* We've added a partner church who has already taken a special offering for us!
* One of our existing partner churches took a special offering for us!
* One of our existing partner churches gave us the money needed to pay our September self-employment taxes!
* Family gave us money to pay for our extensive car repairs!
* Many individuals from one of our partner churches gave special gifts!
We have been overwhelmed. We feel excited and at peace about staying for the 2016-2017 school year, and look forward to our continued partnership with so many.
All of these gifts have gotten us closer to our budget for the year, but we still aren't quite there. We are still looking for a few more monthly supporters or one time gifts to be pledged for the remainder of this fiscal year (now - June) and pledged for next year (July 2016 - June 2017). If you're able to donate even $10 monthly for the next 6, 12 or 18 months we would be so grateful!
Visit Christian Reformed World Missions to give.
THANK YOU to everyone for your prayers, your love and your support!
Showing posts with label Gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gratitude. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
"He sees you and remembers you today."
For the last seven days, I feel like God
has been showing off.
In my Bible Study this week (Beth Moore:1 & 2 Thessalonians), one of the points in the video was this:
"Often we hope God is at work, but sometimes we get to know it (1 Thess 1:5)".
This has been my experience the last seven days - KNOWING that God is at work.
Really it started last week Wednesday, when I gathered the email addresses of those who wrote to say they'd like to join our prayer team, and I sent out the first prayer team email. This is something we've needed for a long time, finally asked for, and are so grateful to those who are joining us in more intentional prayer about our future here at HOPAC and in Tanzania. So I sent out the email in the afternoon, we had our church Life Group that night, and we went to bed.
Thursday morning, I woke up and for whatever reason, decided to check my email before even getting out of bed.
First email: "We just made a donation of $2000 to you through CRWM. While we know that you will be grateful for the gift, our desire is for you to see this as God's gift to you - a reminder that He sees you and remembers you today. We're just excited to be his hands to transfer the money to you."
WHAT?!?! I actually started laughing and crying at the same time. I'm actually tearing up reading this again. Not only because of the incredible financial gift that it is, but because of the heart behind it. Isaac heard me and came into our room, asking if I was laughing or crying, and why. I was able to share with him what the email was about, and he had to wipe away his own tears. Our kids are learning some valuable lessons right along with us.
And if that wasn't enough, God continued to work.
Second email: A church is having a conversation about possibly supporting us.
WHAT?!?! The pastor of this church is someone we've known for around six or so years, and he and his family have personally supported us from the beginning. The church will have a meeting in December, but the deacons of the church are proposing that the church begin supporting us in 2016. Again, this is an incredible financial gift and answer to prayer, but with a church partnership comes so much more than money. We will have another WHOLE CHURCH to share with about what God is doing here in Tanzania and to have praying for us! This is incredible!
And if that wasn't enough, God continued to work.
Third email: A church is going to take a special offering for us.
WHAT?!?! The missions committee of this partner church felt burdened for us after our last prayer letter, so requested a special offering from the deacons and it was approved. How can you deny the hand of the Lord in all of this?
Many tears have poured from my eyes these last seven days. I just cannot keep from being so overwhelmed by God's goodness and faithfulness. We feel humbled and affirmed. We feel, as the first email said, that God has "seen us and remembered us".
It's been a week of KNOWING that God is at work. He is working in out situation. He is working in us. He is working in the world around us. I am praising God for his sovereign hand and that he has shown us so many glimpses of his work in our lives!
Second email: A church is having a conversation about possibly supporting us.
WHAT?!?! The pastor of this church is someone we've known for around six or so years, and he and his family have personally supported us from the beginning. The church will have a meeting in December, but the deacons of the church are proposing that the church begin supporting us in 2016. Again, this is an incredible financial gift and answer to prayer, but with a church partnership comes so much more than money. We will have another WHOLE CHURCH to share with about what God is doing here in Tanzania and to have praying for us! This is incredible!
And if that wasn't enough, God continued to work.
Third email: A church is going to take a special offering for us.
WHAT?!?! The missions committee of this partner church felt burdened for us after our last prayer letter, so requested a special offering from the deacons and it was approved. How can you deny the hand of the Lord in all of this?
Many tears have poured from my eyes these last seven days. I just cannot keep from being so overwhelmed by God's goodness and faithfulness. We feel humbled and affirmed. We feel, as the first email said, that God has "seen us and remembered us".
It's been a week of KNOWING that God is at work. He is working in out situation. He is working in us. He is working in the world around us. I am praising God for his sovereign hand and that he has shown us so many glimpses of his work in our lives!
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Giving Tuesday - THANK YOU!
As today is "Giving Tuesday", we wanted to take a minute to THANK YOU for your giving!
Two years ago yesterday was our first fundraiser for our move back in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We had a craft show at Plymouth Heights CRC and raised over $2,000 to jump start our fundraising process.
Since then, many people have partnered with us through giving, whether special or monthly gifts, and we are so completely grateful for your support.
Your support goes far beyond what you may know. Your support helps us pay rent, utilities, buy food, put gas in our car, yes...but here are a few ways your giving continues to give that you might not know about...
* Your support pays the monthly wage of 2 employees. Their work for us is a huge asset to freeing up our time to engage in ministry. Elnert is our house helper and does our cleaning, wash, dishes and periodically helps with the girls. She is 24, married and has a almost 2 year old son. She did not have full time work prior to us coming. Hosea is our gardener - he cares for the proprty, helps with the dogs, opens and closes our gate, runs errands for us and is incredible with the kids - they love to play with him! He and his wife, Lucy live on our property and we are so thankful for them! Hosea has a big and generous heart, and I have heard often of times when he and his wife are giving some of their salaries to help people who are sick, buying mosquito nets for families without, or just using their hard-earned income to take a bus over 4 hours to go into a small village and preach the gospel. Providing work for him allows him to engage in ministry.
* Your support pays for my langugage lessons. Lucy, (Hosea's wife, who lives on the same property) sits with me and my friend Angie for 9 hours a week to help me with my Swahili. She, like her husband, has a huge heart and I consider both of them local missionaries. She has become a very dear friend and sister in Christ. Again, by supporting us, we are able to provide a bit of additional work for Lucy, which helps them make their monthly trip to the village to minister.
* We tithe to our local church, God's Tribe. This church plant is just over a year old and is very much a toddler church, but is faithful in preaching the gospel each week. Your support is also supporting the work and ministry of this church.
* Your support allows other missionary families to engage in their God-given callings. Many, many, missionaries who live in remote areas are given only one option for schooling for their children: homeschooling. This is a viable and great option for some. HOPAC is strategically planted, however, in a large city which becomes the center for many missions agencies. This allows parents of these children an amazing, Christ-centered option for their kids for school.
If you're a parent, take a moment and think about what you could NOT do each day if your child's school did not exist and you had to homeschool....
LOTS, right?
Now, think what a blessing it is to have an international Christian school for these families! The missionaries who send their kids to HOPAC are doing amazing work: Young Life across 20+ countries in Africa, Doctors, Survey work (figuring out where the unreached people groups are in order to send new missionaries there with the gospel), local pastor training through theological education, ministering to the poor through kids clubs, sports clubs, and relationship building, teaching English to future teachers, teaching skills to women in order to give them sustainable work, drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, church plants, etc.
YOU are supporting these missionaries as you support us. Think of the lives that are being touched by all these missionaries here in Dar - YOU are partnering with them! What an amazing gift!
I'm sure there are ways your giving is touching even more lives and ministries - unseen ways - even to us on the field. I know it blessed us and brings joy to have so many partnering with us in the work God has called us to do here.
Now here comes the other side of this: We're still in need.
In the next few months, we are going to need to pay another 6 months rent (most of this is saved so far, need $800 yet), self-employment taxes (possibly around $8000- $9000) and we really, really, really hope to come 'home' for 8 weeks or so next summer, but that requires plane tickets (around $7000). We have not met our montly budget once since being here, despite reducing it twice. We've used every penny of our own savings. We're confident the Lord is asking us remain and continue on, but we need help in doing so.
Specifically, we are in need of an additional $1500 in monthly support and also in need of some annual or special gifts. We have some who give $5 a month, and others who give $200 a month. We have some who have given $20 a year and others who have given $1000. Would you consider supporting us with any amount this giving Tuesday or in the upcoming year?
If so, please click HERE and select "Missionaries - Africa" and then "Driesenga, Marc".
Posts and requests like these are difficult. We want to just share the stories and the great work that God is doing here in Dar, but fundraising is a part of our job as well. It's humbling, it's overwhelming, it's faith-building and it's truly a joy to watch the Lord provide for our needs.
Thank you for truly being our partners in ministry.
Asante sana, marafiki. Mungu ni Mwema.
(Thank you very much, friends. God is good.)
 |
| 1st fundraiser on December 1st, 2012 |
Since then, many people have partnered with us through giving, whether special or monthly gifts, and we are so completely grateful for your support.
Your support goes far beyond what you may know. Your support helps us pay rent, utilities, buy food, put gas in our car, yes...but here are a few ways your giving continues to give that you might not know about...
 |
| Eva and Hope 'helping' Elnert make tortillas. |
* Your support pays the monthly wage of 2 employees. Their work for us is a huge asset to freeing up our time to engage in ministry. Elnert is our house helper and does our cleaning, wash, dishes and periodically helps with the girls. She is 24, married and has a almost 2 year old son. She did not have full time work prior to us coming. Hosea is our gardener - he cares for the proprty, helps with the dogs, opens and closes our gate, runs errands for us and is incredible with the kids - they love to play with him! He and his wife, Lucy live on our property and we are so thankful for them! Hosea has a big and generous heart, and I have heard often of times when he and his wife are giving some of their salaries to help people who are sick, buying mosquito nets for families without, or just using their hard-earned income to take a bus over 4 hours to go into a small village and preach the gospel. Providing work for him allows him to engage in ministry.
 |
| Lucy and Angie during a Swahli lesson |
 |
| The Life Group we co-lead on Wednesday Evenings through our church, God's Tribe. In our group we have 6 countries represented: Tanzania, Kenya, England, Zimbabwe, Canada and America. |
* We tithe to our local church, God's Tribe. This church plant is just over a year old and is very much a toddler church, but is faithful in preaching the gospel each week. Your support is also supporting the work and ministry of this church.
* Your support allows other missionary families to engage in their God-given callings. Many, many, missionaries who live in remote areas are given only one option for schooling for their children: homeschooling. This is a viable and great option for some. HOPAC is strategically planted, however, in a large city which becomes the center for many missions agencies. This allows parents of these children an amazing, Christ-centered option for their kids for school.
If you're a parent, take a moment and think about what you could NOT do each day if your child's school did not exist and you had to homeschool....
LOTS, right?
Now, think what a blessing it is to have an international Christian school for these families! The missionaries who send their kids to HOPAC are doing amazing work: Young Life across 20+ countries in Africa, Doctors, Survey work (figuring out where the unreached people groups are in order to send new missionaries there with the gospel), local pastor training through theological education, ministering to the poor through kids clubs, sports clubs, and relationship building, teaching English to future teachers, teaching skills to women in order to give them sustainable work, drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, church plants, etc. YOU are supporting these missionaries as you support us. Think of the lives that are being touched by all these missionaries here in Dar - YOU are partnering with them! What an amazing gift!
I'm sure there are ways your giving is touching even more lives and ministries - unseen ways - even to us on the field. I know it blessed us and brings joy to have so many partnering with us in the work God has called us to do here.
Now here comes the other side of this: We're still in need.
In the next few months, we are going to need to pay another 6 months rent (most of this is saved so far, need $800 yet), self-employment taxes (possibly around $8000- $9000) and we really, really, really hope to come 'home' for 8 weeks or so next summer, but that requires plane tickets (around $7000). We have not met our montly budget once since being here, despite reducing it twice. We've used every penny of our own savings. We're confident the Lord is asking us remain and continue on, but we need help in doing so.
Specifically, we are in need of an additional $1500 in monthly support and also in need of some annual or special gifts. We have some who give $5 a month, and others who give $200 a month. We have some who have given $20 a year and others who have given $1000. Would you consider supporting us with any amount this giving Tuesday or in the upcoming year?
If so, please click HERE and select "Missionaries - Africa" and then "Driesenga, Marc".
Posts and requests like these are difficult. We want to just share the stories and the great work that God is doing here in Dar, but fundraising is a part of our job as well. It's humbling, it's overwhelming, it's faith-building and it's truly a joy to watch the Lord provide for our needs.
Thank you for truly being our partners in ministry.
Asante sana, marafiki. Mungu ni Mwema.
(Thank you very much, friends. God is good.)
Friday, June 27, 2014
UPDATE - MOVE update!
UPDATE (Saturday, June 28) -
LESS than 24 hours after this original post, we have finances for EVERYTHING ON OUR LIST!!!
PRAISE BE TO GOD! We are completely in awe of how the Lord has provided. We got a few emails yesterday sharing of donations that friends have made, with the final email right before going to bed which covered the rest of our list.
Friends, I couldn't sleep last night, I was so giddy with excitement over God's provision.
The song that kept coming to mind as I laid in bed was, "Sing Your Praise To The Lord" by Rich Mullins.
I'm singing praise to the Lord today for his goodness, his provision, his faithfulness and his love and for showing all of that through you. We would not be here without you all!
We are still in need of people willing to join us by giving a special gift or to partner with us through monthly giving throughout the 2014- 2015 year, so if you felt inclinded to give and didn't get around to it for our household needs, we still need you! Please follow the instructions below.
Thank you!!!
________________________________________________________________________________
Friends,
We wrote & YOU RESPONDED!
In our most recent prayer letter sent last week, we shared our list of current needs and have been SO BLESSED by your response!
Yes, there are things we are still in need of (see below), but we are blown away by the generosity of our friends and partners in ministry. So many of our 'big' items have been covered already! We look forward to showing and telling you how this new house will be used for ministry and life here in Dar.
We praise GOD for providing through YOU ALL!
Prayer Letter Report:
As we wrap up our first year in Tanzania, we are in a need of a strong finish in financial giving. Currently, we are at 75% of our yearly budget with two weeks to go in our fiscal year. Looking ahead, we've reduced our budget for the upcoming year, but are still in need of friends to partner with us through monthly giving. We are also in need of special giving for basic living items as we set up our own home. We have items lined up from other missionary families who are leaving, but need additional financial support in order to actually purchase them within the next few weeks!
Can you help?
Help cover rent $1000
Stove
1 large bed
Refridgerator
Wash Machine $200
Bunk Beds
Guest bed
1 Large Mosquito Net $75
1 chair for living room: $60
1 chair for living room: $60
1 dresser
1 dresser
1 dresser
Desk
1 Mosquito Net $25
1 Mosquito Net $25
Bookshelf
1 Fan
1 Fan
Bookcase (kids) $15
1 kids chair
1 kids chair
4 trash bins $12
Kids table
Laundry Basket $9
Step stool
To give, follow these 5 simple steps:
LESS than 24 hours after this original post, we have finances for EVERYTHING ON OUR LIST!!!
PRAISE BE TO GOD! We are completely in awe of how the Lord has provided. We got a few emails yesterday sharing of donations that friends have made, with the final email right before going to bed which covered the rest of our list.
Friends, I couldn't sleep last night, I was so giddy with excitement over God's provision.
The song that kept coming to mind as I laid in bed was, "Sing Your Praise To The Lord" by Rich Mullins.
I'm singing praise to the Lord today for his goodness, his provision, his faithfulness and his love and for showing all of that through you. We would not be here without you all!
We are still in need of people willing to join us by giving a special gift or to partner with us through monthly giving throughout the 2014- 2015 year, so if you felt inclinded to give and didn't get around to it for our household needs, we still need you! Please follow the instructions below.
Thank you!!!
________________________________________________________________________________
Friends,
We wrote & YOU RESPONDED!
In our most recent prayer letter sent last week, we shared our list of current needs and have been SO BLESSED by your response!
Yes, there are things we are still in need of (see below), but we are blown away by the generosity of our friends and partners in ministry. So many of our 'big' items have been covered already! We look forward to showing and telling you how this new house will be used for ministry and life here in Dar.
We praise GOD for providing through YOU ALL!
Prayer Letter Report:
As we wrap up our first year in Tanzania, we are in a need of a strong finish in financial giving. Currently, we are at 75% of our yearly budget with two weeks to go in our fiscal year. Looking ahead, we've reduced our budget for the upcoming year, but are still in need of friends to partner with us through monthly giving. We are also in need of special giving for basic living items as we set up our own home. We have items lined up from other missionary families who are leaving, but need additional financial support in order to actually purchase them within the next few weeks!
Can you help?
Refridgerator
To give, follow these 5 simple steps:
1. Visit Christian Reformed World Missions Website by clicking here: https://secure3.convio.net/crcna/site/Donation2?df_id=5220&5220.donation=form1
2. At the first drop down menu (Under "Allocate my gift"), choose "Missionaries - Africa"
3. To the right there will be another drop down menu, choose "Driesenga, Marc"
4. Continue to fill out the gift amount, billing and payment information.
5. Send us an email to let us know what you have contributed so we can update our list: thedriesengafamily@gmail.com
As always, your gift is tax deductible.
We are so thankful for your continued partnership, and look forward to sharing more stories of God's grace on our blog. www.thedriesengafamily.
With love and deep gratitude,
Marc & Gretchen
Isaac, Hope & Geneva
As always, your gift is tax deductible.
We are so thankful for your continued partnership, and look forward to sharing more stories of God's grace on our blog. www.thedriesengafamily.
With love and deep gratitude,
Marc & Gretchen
Isaac, Hope & Geneva
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)