Support Letter

I finally got the letter finish, and a bunch of them are on their way! You might be receiving one in the near future, which will also contain a support slip and a prayer card. However, you can also donate online via credit card if you go to http://www.intervarsity.org/donate. If you want to give this way, then when it says who you would like to give to, just put "Michael Siegrist" (plus "Kenya" if you want to give specifically for that trip). If you would like to print out a copy of the prayer card, it's in the pictures section. Thanks so much, everyone!


My dear friends and family,

I am writing to you to tell you all about a wonderful opportunity that God has given me for the coming year. As many of you know, I am graduating from New Mexico Tech this spring semester with my Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, meaning that I am soon to be released into the world of Grown Ups and Working People (oh no)!

However, the first part of my post-scholastic life won’t be spent in graduate school or a 9-to-5 job. Instead, God has led me to be a part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s ministry here in New Mexico! I’ll be taking part in a nine-month internship here in Albuquerque working with the chapter at the University of New Mexico doing things like leading Bible studies, discipling and mentoring students, and participating in training in theology and ministry. I’ve spent most of my college life as a leader in the NMT chapter, leading the main Large Group study sessions for one year and then serving the last two years as the chapter President. I feel so very blessed by those experiences. Needless to say, I’m really excited that I have a chance to continue working with such a great ministry!

A great addition to my experience with InterVarsity is that I will also have the opportunity to spend some time in Kenya this summer on a short-term mission trip through IV’s Kenya Global Project. This will be a seven-week program beginning June 6^th and ending July 25^th. The trip involves some time in Nairobi working with dozens of students from all over the United States and from Kenyan universities. I will also spend three weeks as part of a smaller two- or three-person group helping a local pastor in one of the many project locations throughout Kenya and participating in a variety of ministry experiences.

You might wonder why I’ve chosen to go to Kenya during this time. The project is short-term and is designed as an on-ramp for students to experience cross-cultural ministry by interacting with both Christians and non-Christians in a different cultural setting. I will have opportunities to evangelize, preach, and disciple others. I will also be stretched as I am confronted with both the differences of Kenyan culture and the poverty and need of its people. However, the project’s motto is that “we are not going to Kenya to change Kenya, but for God to use Kenya to change us.” I think that sums up my motivation best. I don’t know exactly how God will use me or what I will learn during my time there, but I’m sure that He will use the project as a definitive time in my life. I’m thrilled to have a chance to participate in this project!

Now, one of the requirements of both the trip and the internship is to raise support. All told, I have to raise around $4,700 for the trip to Kenya (including travel costs, food, housing, and other costs) before June 30^th. The Lord has blessed me with about $2,400 toward the project, meaning I only need to raise $2,300 more. I also need to raise $14,400 for my living expenses during the internship, which will minimize my need to get another job and allow me to commit more of my time to the work at UNM. This money will need to come in between July 2009 and June 2010 when the internship ends. To be fully funded for the internship, then, I will need to have partners willing to pledge one-time or monthly gifts totaling about $1200 per month.

I understand that we are experiencing some difficult financial time, but I ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting me by providing a gift of $20, $50, or $100 toward my participation in the Kenya Global Project or perhaps even pledging to provide a monthly contribution to help fund my time in the internship at UNM. Included with this letter is a support envelope that you can use to send any contributions you are able to give. Please make checks payable to “IVCF”. If you would like your money to go specifically toward the Kenya trip, please indicate that by writing “Kenya GP” in the memo line. The money for Kenya is due by June 30^th, though, so please send in checks early if you are able to give to that ministry. These donations are tax-deductable.

More than money, though, I need the support of your prayers. I ask that you would pray for both me and the team (around 30 students and staff altogether) before and during the project as well as for my time on staff through the InterVarsity internship at UNM. Some specific things that you could pray for include:

• That the team would be prepared for the work God has for us in Kenya.
• That everyone would be able to raise the needed monetary and prayer support before we leave (and for me, that I would have support for the internship as well).
• For unity within the team during our time in Kenya.
• That our ministry in Kenya would be effective and useful to those we interact with.
• For me, that I would be an effective aide to the IV chapter at UNM next year.
• 
  

Finally, I want to let you know how you can stay up-to-date on what is going on with me both before and during the trip and internship. I have set up a blog, which I hope to use to post stories, occasional updates, and hopefully some pictures while I’m in Kenya. To read the blog, go to http://orisonsandaccolades.blogspot.com/. I also plan to write a letter summarizing my time in Kenya when I get back on July 25^th, so let me know if you would be interested in receiving a copy.

If you are interested in supporting me either prayerfully or monetarily, please let me know! I’d also be glad to answer any questions that you have or hear any other comments you have. I would really like to talk to you personally about these opportunities, so I will try to give you a call in the coming days. Thanks you so much for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Michael Siegrist

Address: 11320 Paseo del Oso NE

Albuquerque, NM 87111

Cell Phone: (505) 328-3481

Email: michaelsiegrist88@gmail.com

Blog: http://orisonsandaccolades.blogspot.com/

God is awesome!

So I just wanted to share with you guys:

I haven't even written my fundraising letter for Kenya yet, but still God has already provided me with about half of what I need to raise in pledges from a few people! Praise the Lord! Also, I talked with my parents, and it looks like I can get my immunizations and round-trip tickets to New York where the team is meeting for free! I've never really been worried about getting the money I need for this trip, but it's been really cool to just see God provide in ways that I hadn't imagined. How lucky I am to be under His loving care!

Nothing else for right now; I just wanted to tell you guys about that, and hopefully you can find some confidence in Him to provide the things you need right now as well. I'll be writing out my fundraising letter and taking care of a bunch of stuff next week, so please keep me in your prayers as I start really gearing up for this trip.