Girl Scout Cookies and missionary support raising!

Hey see that thermometer to the right of the screen? Yep, it is that time again! Time to do something Josh and I hate in order to do something we love. The thing we love: ministering to the people of Banyo, Cameroon- tending to their physical wounds, fixing their electricity so their children have light to do their homework at night, telling them about the love and hope of Jesus! And that is what we hope to do again starting January 2016!

The thing we hate: asking for money! I don't think there are very many people that actually enjoy begging from their friends, family, family friends, or random strangers for handouts. I here ya fund raising haters- I am a card carrying member of your committee (which is awesome because there are no dues since no one wants to ask for them!). When I was little, I only sold Girl Scout cookies and wrapping paper to my parents because I did not want to ask anyone else. I never ever won the cool bike for most boxes sold- not even close.

Then I became a missionary and I learned that one does not “go on a mission,” they are “sent on a mission.” The reality is that people have to give so that you can go. In the very beginning of our missionary story, Josh and I were bound and determined to work really hard at our jobs in America, be super frugal, save every penny, and support ourselves overseas. We did not want to ask for money from others! Three things happened: 1-we learned the real cost of being a missionary (who knew visas and residency documentation were so expensive?!) 2- we discovered those aspirations had more to do with our pride than God's leading and 3- people wiser and more experienced than us advised that we were robbing others of the joy of “radical generosity.”

In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul talks about the churches of Macedonia who begged “with great earnestness” for the “blessing and fellowship of helping the Saints”- those traveling around telling of Jesus. The Macedonians were begging to give to Paul the way I now search for little girls in front of grocery stores to sell me a box of Thin Mints! They were eager. They had a taste of the good stuff and they wanted more!

Ok, stop begging, stop begging. No really stop. Yes, you can donate to us! Here is how:

• You can send a one time check or monthly check or a biannual check or every fifth Sunday check- whatever is easiest for you to 8303 W Higgins Road, Chicago, Illinois, 60631
• You can give online here: http://www.covchurchgiving.com/p-298-missionaries-joshua-and-lori-shinar.aspx

We will be sending out our “support letters” soon. If you have ever received anything from us by mail, rest assured you will get one of these letters (unless you tell us otherwise). If you have never received Shinar mail or have moved and would like one (includes a great prayer reminder card) please give us your address and we will be sure that you get one!

*I just wanted to add that this post was really difficult for me. In fact it took me 3+ hours to work on it (yay for vacation Bible school occupying Charlie this morning). Money, giving, abundance, and need are all really BIG topics! I touched on everyone of these topics in the multiple drafts of this blog, but finally I rested here- a starting point for dialogue and musings on these topics. It is my hope to explore these more in following blogs.