January 2016
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy
New Year! I’d like to update you on how preparation efforts for my
Service Trips are coming along. Thank you to those of you who returned
the “Support Response” via electronic or snail mail. I appreciate your
support, and hearing from you encourages me greatly. It’s wonderful to
know I am kept in the thoughts of loved ones during this process. If you
have not yet responded, it is not too late! I’m still accepting your
response sheets, and am grateful for each one!
For those who are interested in background information regarding the trips, here is a refresher/more info:
PHILIPPINES:
February 11-22, 2016. ALFC has had a long-standing relationship with
Pastor Lucio Miranda and his congregation in Olongapo. In addition to
visiting Pastor Miranda’s home congregation and doing some work-service
projects, the team will also travel to San Fernando in the Pampanga
Province to run a Vacation Bible School program for local children,
perform dance-ministry outreach and possibly run liturgical dance
clinics, as well as contribute to other service projects with a new
church that is being established: Lord of the Breakthrough Foursquare Church. The total estimated cost of this trip is $2,400.
COSTA
RICA: tentatively scheduled for July 2016. This trip will allow me to
return to my former Central American home country! The mission team will
be working with Bill & Debbie Boling in Naranjito/Quepos area, in
the Puntarenas region (Pacific side). Their ministry works in leadership
development, involving local churches, Bible institutes, ESL classes,
cooking classes, and outreach to schoolchildren. They need some
construction work on their facilities, which will allow ministries to
expand. I will aid in leading this trip, navigating a country very near
and dear to my heart, translating/interpreting, and hopefully visiting
with Tico (Costa Rican) loved ones during my time there. The total
estimated cost of this service trip is $1,500.
If you’d like to know more about these trips, please contact me personally!
To
date, my fund has received $1,325 in contributions of generous
donations and gifts from my friends and family. Thank you! The first
payment for the trip to the Philippines was due December 9th--a total of
$1,000 to cover airfare and preliminary administrative costs.
Fundraising continues now we have solidified team members; efforts will
start being made here in Hollister--bake sales, auctions, savings cards
for local businesses, and perhaps flamingo “flocking” (Google it if you’re unfamiliar with what it is!).
In
the first phase of fundraising, an issue with the online giving was
brought to my attention (thank you to those who contacted me for
clarification). To support your donation efforts, on the attached
Support Response page I have updated instructions, detailing steps for
how to donate online to the fund.
In
conclusion, I’m still asking friends and family for support
commitments--both financial and otherwise. (If you have not yet already,
please return the “Support Response,” on the following page.) I’m
lacking the financial support to meet my fundraising goal for both
trips, amounting to a total of $3,900--which includes airfare and other
transportation, housing, food, and supplies for work-service projects.
Most importantly, I ask for emotional and spiritual support, offering
your prayers and guidance as I prepare for these trips. All the
logistical details after years of traveling are of little concern, but
in the areas of emotional, spiritual, and physical-health, I know I will
need the most preparation and support.
I’ve
now set up blogsites for each trip, through which my supporters can
keep apprised of the most recent news related to the trips. If you want
to know more, you have a variety of methods by which to reach me! Thank
you for your ongoing support. I look forward to continued communication
with you.
Blessings,
Lara Lichten
Contact Info:
Mailing address: 83 Nevada St. Hollister, CA 95023
U.S. mobile phone: (360) 477-0335
Connect with me via social media:
* Facebook/Messenger * Instagram (lara_lichten) * Twitter * WeChat * WhatsApp
Also, check out my church, Abundant Life Foursquare Church (Hollister, CA) at: https://alfchollister.org/ or on Facebook.
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Support Response
If you are willing and able to contribute support for my trips, or have suggestions to help our teams gather support, please respond using this form. Please keep the teams in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare for this trip, and I will be in touch with additional updates as we prepare.
Please fill out and return this paper to me ASAP, via postal mail:
83 Nevada Street, Hollister, CA, USA, 95023
(If you can do so electronically, sending your response to: lara.lichten@gmail.com, that’s appreciated too!)
NOTE: CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOMED CONTINUALLY,
AS FUNDING IS BEING RAISED UNTIL MY GOAL OF $3,900 IS REACHED.
Thank you!
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PLEASE CHECK ANY/ALL BOXES APPLICABLE:
⧠ I will support this mission with prayer
⧠ I would like to be included in updates concerning the trips via email (address noted below).
⧠ I will support you with a monetary donation. Options for giving include:
- CHECK: payable to ALFC, noting in memo: “Lara Lichten missions.”
- ONLINE: here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to access ALFC’s Easy Giving online site...
- Visit ALFC's giving page: https://www.alfchollister.org/give
- To make an online contribution, simply click the "Donate Now" button.
- Once the Easytithe page has loaded, select the "Quick Give" tab. (No login required)
- Put in your info and in the “fund” field, select from the drop-down menu either:
"Missions Team Philippines" or "Missions Team Costa Rica". - IMPORTANT! After submitting all your info electronically, please fill out the following info, so we can note the amount of your donation that should be allocated to my specific account.
Please note the amount you donated, for accounting purposes: $_________________
* This is a charitable donation for which you can receive a tax-deduction receipt if the following info is noted:
DATE OF DONATION: ______________ FULL NAME: ________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________
⧠ I’d appreciate future communication to be paperless. Please use my email address noted above.
ANYTHING
ELSE TO COMMUNICATE TO LARA?
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