Dry calls....

When I got back from Colorado I was so pumped and ready to go to Italy right away.  I am ready to pack my bags and go start learning Italian.  It was such a rejuvenating time.  

I got back and was bombarded by support raising.  My bubble popped.  I thought to myself, "It's going to be so much easier from now on to raise support!"  Well, I think it is actually gotten harder, but I am more aware of what I'm doing and also know how to balance my days between language learning, fundraising and prayer and scripture time. (that's a BIG +)  

Believe it or not, but there are 300 churches in Wichita, KS alone!  Today I called about 10% of them.  Yup, 30 churches.  It was funny because by the 15th church I called, it started to be kind of fun and I noticed myself being more friendly and cheery about it.  

This is what my dialogue was and I stumbled all over it, but I'm learning to communicate my message better... 

"Hi! my name is Brandi Davis and I'm a missionary raising financial support.  Is there a missions coordinator or pastor that I could talk to at your church?"  

The receptionist would answer and say these following choices:

• They are lay leaders
  
• Let me find out who that is.. just one second
• Our pastor is in charge of the missions
  
• They are out of town, call back on Monday
• Here is their email 
  

So I got a lot of church homework cut out for me!  

If they did not answer I left a message and said:

"Hi, my name is Brandi Davis and I'm a missionary raising financial support. (pause)  I work for Team Expansion, which is a church planting missions organization based in Louisville, KY.  I plan to go to Verona, Italy to start a church plant with 7 other team members.  I would appreciate your call back.  Please call my cell phone at 316-259-6044 

Thanks and Have a great day!

I kind of sounded like a salesman despite the few hiccups, sneezes and long pauses because I forgot what to say.  

I have learned that the connections that you have are only the beginning.  There are millions of connections to many different churches, you just have to find them.... 

I found a whole lot today.

That was my adventure for today, which produced a headache and fatigue.  The great thing about it is that I'm not scared of dry calls anymore!  I actually like to do it; as weird as that may sound, it's true.

Just a minute ago a pastor of a church that I contacted called back and sounded interested!  See.... connection! 

I'm feelin' good:)

Distance from Verona to other Countries

So, tonight before bed, I was playing around with Google Maps. Great fun, if you have never played with it. Unfortunately, there still are no "street level" photos of Verona, but I did check to see how close Verona is to other countries. By car, Verona is 2 hours and 24 minutes from Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. It is 3 hours and 35 minutes from Germany and Croatia. And it is 4 hours to France.

It is interesting to see how "close" a city in Northern Italy is to so many countries. Also, once the church is firmly established in Verona and multiplying in the surrounding areas think how close those new offshoots would be to neighboring borders! The Verona church could someday be the launching pad for Southern European mission endeavors!!! We must keep praying for the foundation of the church in Verona and for those to come to know Christ in a daily relationship.