We’re well into March but winter refuses to leave us. We’ve had snow on the ground more or less since the day Anna and Matt were married in December. The shops here can’t decide whether to sell Easter chocolates or snow shovels. Unexpected weather makes it difficult to plan.
It’s also become difficult for my wife and me to plan because of financial conditions here in Europe.
We have been planning a year-long home ministry assignment for some time now to reconnect with our current ministry partners and add some much-needed, new support before returning to the field. The logical time for this “furlough” would be starting the summer of 2006, following the graduation of our youngest daughter from high school.
This seems a logical time for us as well in light of the scheduled arrival of new coworkers this summer. Helping them through their first year here, planning and learning to work together is a responsibility I do not take lightly.
But for whatever reason, giving for our ministry has declined over the last few months while the costs of serving here climb. This month nearly $3000 less than our monthly average came in to cover our salary and ministry expenses, taking away any surplus and leaving us with a current shortfall of nearly $2000. The cost of fuel has skyrocketed to new heights (approaching $7 per gallon) and the dollar continues to be at its lowest value ever against the euro.
What that means for us is that we currently only receive a partial salary and are unable to be reimbursed for ministry expenses. If there is not a marked improvement in the next months we will be forced to leave the field until we have sufficient support pledged to maintain our ministry here in Europe. As you can imagine, we would not look forward to the upheaval and interruption to life and ministry this would bring.
Since arriving in Europe 21 years ago, we have seen God’s constant provision for the needs of our family and ministry. And he has used people to make that happen. We are grateful to God and to those who partner with us.
I ask you to pray with us. We are seeing a real time of growth in our ministry with CreativeWorks (as well as Ruth’s foundational research work with a new Europe-wide, missions consortium) and believe God’s call is to persevere. And so we are asking God to provide.
Durand
