Update: Many irons in the fire make for hot fingers!

Wow, it's already July! That seems so weird to me; it was only a couple months ago that I was slaving away over communitarian theology, ordinary language philosophy, and the ethics of internet pornography.

Since we're now at 26 days to the BIG deadline, I want to recap some of the good stuff from May and June and then let you know what's going on this month.

In May, I . ..

• graduated from The Honors College at Western Carolina University with a Humanities double-major in Philosophy & Religion and English Literature. Hooray for the end of three long years of grueling undergraduate work done at breakneck speed!
• became a semipro housekeeper/dogsitter for a month
• helped host a thought-provoking series of literary and philosophical salons
  
• started this blog to keep people updated
  
• answered the question: "What is a STINT?"
• put all the financial information in one handy reference post: "Getting Involved"

In June, I . ..

• met with more people and families in person to share my heart and vision
• posted all of my contact information: "I Like Social Networking Utilities"
• drafted a paper info packet to send via snail mail (let me know if you're interested)
• asked you to pray for my car, Virginia
• called 270 people (not all in one day--but yes, my cell phone got really hot)
• spoke at one church congregation's Sunday services
• shared my vision for and calling to Sweden: "Sweden? Seriously?"

July is going to be a very, very hectic month. Here are the things that I will not only need your prayer and encouragement for but also your involvement and help to get done before (dun dun dun) August 1:

• Virginia is now in the shop. It is a difficult time for her--which is making it difficult for me to get out there to meet people in person!
• I'm going to be a camp counselor to middle- and high-schoolers. Pray. Hard. Please.
  
• I have to wire money to the Swedish government for the visa that will allow me to live and work in Uppsala.
  
• I have a ton of info packets that are ready and waiting to be sent . .. but I have run out of contacts to send them to. The simple truth is: I don't know enough people to make this mission possible. One of the non-financial supports that I need during this point in the journey is your help in introducing me to people you know that I don't. If you're willing to help in this way, drop me a line. Send someone a link to this blog. Talk to your friends, family, waitresses, bank tellers, stockbrokers, carpet installers and small business owners.
  
• I'm currently at 17.7% of my total one-time goal that is fully due on August 1. Would you consider sending in a one-time gift to help me meet the mark? You can give securely online here or find more info here.
• I'm currently at 12% of monthly support (that is, the amount I need pledged from my team to support me during the next 12 months while I'm in Uppsala). I have to show on August 1st that I have commitments for the total amount or else I won't be able to go. I ask that you please consider joining my monthly support team by setting up your giving online here or through the mail here.
• I have to pack for a whole year at one time! If you've ever seen my closet, you know that it's going to be a hard time choosing which shoes to bring (and which shoes to leave behind) for a whole year. At least I know that I'll definitely have to bring my parka and mittens

While that does look and feel like a lot to do and a lot of stress in getting it done, I want to end this update with a huge "thanks" for all the great things I've encountered so far:

Here's to the people who have given, people who have been and are still praying, people who are considering giving, people who have linked to me in their blogs, people who have sent notes of encouragement, people who are already asking friends to join in on this, people who callback, people who ask questions, people who feed me, people who share their own journey, people who keep me social, people who drive me place to place, and to the God who holds us all together. Thank you!

Basics: Do I get fries with this?

I crack myself up sometimes. But really, lots of people do ask what I'm planning on doing with the financial support that I'm raising right now. I think that's a great question.

If you've been here before, you know that I'm responsible for raising 100% of my total salary, ministry expenses, benefits, insurance, and administrative costs by finding a team of partners who will give one time or monthly. There are no central funds through CCCI--everything I will do in Sweden is made possible by each dollar of support from this team.

With that in mind, I’ve created a snapshot of how your financial support makes living and ministering possible in Uppsala. This is in no way an exhaustive list, but it does cover some of the basic categories of my financial needs:

Giving Regularly

• $20 / month :: 3 weeks of meeting with one student once a week for coffee (in Swedish, taking fika) and building a relationship of trust in order to share the gospel.
• $50 / month :: one roundtrip train ticket to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden and the nearest city to Uppsala—a hotbed of social activity and chances for evangelism
• $100 / month :: covers internet, TV, phone and other communications costs so that I can stay in touch with my team of partners
• $250 / month :: helps pay for approximately 2/3 of the average food and/or meal cost per month – an essential for healthy physical (as well as spiritual) growth!
• $500 / month :: helps pay half of one average month’s rent for a youth hostel apartment for one person living with others
• $1000 / month :: helps fund social security, benefits, emergency evacuation, and other administrative costs

Giving a One Time/Special Gift

• $20 :: buys one lunch with a student for fellowship, encouragement, and training
• $50 :: puts a copy of an illustrated, contemporary Swedish language Bible into one student’s hands
• $100 :: buys a month’s worth of bus passes to get around Uppsala City and University
• $250 :: pays for essential supplies (paper, printing, materials) for one focus group geared around hearing what matters most to Swedish students
• $500 :: pays for a part of the flight to the CCCI Christmas Conference
• $1000 :: pays for visa and other travel related fees so that I can legally work in Sweden
• $5000 :: covers the cost of one one-way ticket from the US to Sweden for either departure in Fall 2008 or return in Summer 2009

As you can see, there are tons of areas that I'll need prayer and financial support for--from housing to communication, from conversation to study. Is there a way you're being called to partner?