Double your Investment: Matching Gift Given to RMI!

RMI has been in the business of making an eternal impact on Americans’ and Haitians’ lives for over 20 years. That translates to thousands of people on both sides who have been ministered to and encouraged through the ministries of RMI. We literally could not be doing this without YOU! Your faithful, consistent prayers and your faithful, consistent financial support. Since RMI is a faith-based mission, we count on individuals and churches to support our missionaries, ministries and the RMI International Office.

Plainly put, the recession has been difficult for RMI. We have cut back our operations back to the bare bones. Each of our staff wear several hats. But we still are falling short financially.

God has placed this need on a group of donors’ hearts. They want to see RMI finish this year strongly. They have given us a $10,000 matching gift challenge! In other words, if we can raise $10,000, they will match it with an equal amount. We need your help to accomplish this! Would you prayerfully consider how God would have you respond to this?

Just think, whatever you give, your money will be doubled! There are few investments that will not only double your money but result in an eternal impact! This gift of $10,000 can become $20,000.

Giving to RMI has been made easier. You can donate online or set up a monthly bill pay with your bank. Go to RMI's Ways to Give to set that up.

Help us meet this challenge by the deadline of Dec. 31, 2009. RMI wants to finish this year well; heIp us to continue making an eternal impact on lives.

Giving Suggestions:

The past year has been one of tremendous challenge for everyone. Economic conditions have made it necessary for most to make careful choices about how to spend, save, and give their resources. For many, the final month of the year is a time to share with others. Now, more than ever, you may find that time spent considering how to make your gifts can help you be a better steward of your charitable dollars. By giving in the most effective manner, you may discover you can help others in ways you never thought possible. Here are some ideas that may be beneficial as you consider your charitable plans this fall.

Enjoy tax savings

Those who make charitable gifts may wish to structure the amount and timing of their gifts to make the best use of tax incentives that remain available this year. With proposed changes in federal tax laws, giving this year may never save you more.

The higher your tax rate, the more your gifts will save you. If you are subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT), you may be surprised to learn that charitable deductions serve to reduce the amount of both the regular income tax and the AMT. Remember that only gifts made by December 31 can help reduce the amount of taxes you owe next April.

Deciding what to give

* Cash. Charitable gifts are most often made in the form of cash and checks. When you itemize your tax deductions, gifts of cash may be used to eliminate federal income tax on up to half of your adjusted gross income (AGI). You may enjoy state income tax savings as well.

* Securities. Giving securities (individual stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares) that are worth more than they cost can bring additional tax savings. Gifts of such property are generally deductible from income tax at full current value if owned for longer than one year, and can be used to offset tax on up to 30% of your AGI. In addition, no tax is due on any gain, as could be the case in the event of a sale. Giving securities also frees up cash for other purposes or to diversity investments.

10 Noteworthy things about my life

RMI missionary, Amy Long, has a great blog that you should check on a regular basis! She gives a fantastic view into her life as a missionary. Some of it is lighthearted, some of it is moving but all of it is insightful. In addition to being an artful writer, she is an accomplished photographer. You will see some great pictures that she has taken. Her blog can be found here. Her Nov. 10 blog was about 10 noteworthy things concerning the current status of her life
in Haiti:

10. I’m wearing a sweater, because its chilly, in Haiti.

9. My head comes to a slight point on top, making it difficult to fulfill my dream of carrying things on my head, in Haiti.

8. I used to refuse to eat leftovers but now I eat them almost every single day, in Haiti.

7. For the first three months I lived here, I had fresh tomatoes straight out of the garden pretty much
every single day. For the last two months, its been avocado,
straight from the tree in the yard, pretty much every single day.
I guess that's one of the benefits of having someone else
responsible for growing things in your garden, in Haiti.

6. I have been waking up with out an alarm clock almost everyday
for the last few weeks at 6:48am. Strange things such as
this happen in these parts. This gives credence to the
statement, only…in Haiti.

5. I have been sharing my space with mice. I found evidence that
they had eaten some of my crackers; and they had a party in my
closet. So I set a trap and caught one. Suzanne set out another
trap, and we caught another. And she caught one in her room as
well. Another trap is set for tonight. This is the most disgusting thing that has happened to me (SO FAR), in Haiti.

4. I officially have internet access at my house. This will help me
stay in touch with friends and family. It will also make it easier
for you to keep in touch with me, in Haiti.

3. On November 21, I leave for the town of Picot to spend two
weeks living with a Pastor and his family. This is to immerse
myself in Creole. I hope to come away from the experience well
versed in the language. This will help me immensely, in Haiti.

2. Jesus might be coming soon. Because signs an wonders abound. I have found a supplier of Diet Coke, in Haiti.

1. I waited five long months for my four wheeler to arrive. It was
finally released from customs and was transported to Cayes on
Saturday. Now, if the keys were only here, in Haiti.

Pray for Amy. She is in Picot (#3 above) in 2 weeks of language immersion!

Incredible Video Testimony That Explains Why We Do What We Do.

This video is long, but totally worth the investment! This paints a great picture as to why we do what we do. It will be worth it to watch the whole thing, but I would especially encourage you to watch Alison @06:35, Dana @14:41, Scott @21:00, and Dan @32:02.

This is a video of a church service on Nov 3, 2009 at one of RMI's churches, CrossRoad Church UMC in Jacksonville, FL. They tell their story of the broad impact of the partnership they have with their Sister Church in Tiburon, Haiti, through RMI.

For your convenience, here are some timestamps…

• 00:00 – Pastor Scott Crawford (Community Life Pastor) gives an introduction to their Sister Church Partnership.
• 06:35 - Alison (Recent Team Member) shares her story, specifically related to RMI’s Hope for Kidz child sponsorship program.
• 14:41 - Dana (recent team member) shares her dramatic story of Kingdom impact, salvation, being a God Parent.
• 21:00 - Scott shares more Kingdom impact.
• 26:15 - Scott shares message from Haitian Pastor Lundy to the congregation at CrossRoad Church UMC.
• 32:02 - RMI President Dan Shoemaker thanks the congregation for their compassionate partnership and impact.
• 37:38 - Sr. Pastor Gee challenges his congregation to live below their means to make a difference.

Finally, here is the video…

Update on Jules

Jules has now moved to an efficiency apartment. He is quite happy there at this point. They are not having to share it with someone like his previous place. It will cost him $500 a month including utilities. He has the furniture he needs so far. He has no TV, but is hoping to be able to get cable installed and a TV soon. This is essential for him since he is not able to get out much. It provides some “distractions” for him as they would say in Creole.

The hospital is planning on providing, free of charge, a bone marrow transplant (as best we can ascertain). This will either heal him completely or at least extend his life, potentially, by several years. We will see what God does. We are trusting that he will have doctors that will give him straight info, not just what he wants to hear! We will see how it goes and will keep you posted.

He still needs prayer, company, and funds. The funds we have for him here will be gone in a month or so.

Continue to call him. He enjoys getting your calls!

Several people have been able to visit him and that has really encouraged him and Martha.

[Thank you to John and Cyndy Kopitsky of Second Cape May Baptist Church (Marmora, NJ) for the photo updates. They were able to visit him on his birthday at the end of October – he and Dawn share a birthday.]

His cell phone is: 321-217-4165. (Still the same as before.)

His NEW address is:

Jules Gedna

139 Francis Street

Everett MA - 02149

Keep praying for him. Thanks.

What does transition look like?

Kim, Rob and Dan in their transition meeting this morning. Rob wears so many hats that they had to map it out on the white board! He has cleared his office and Kim is installing his computer, books and other things. We had to give Rob a hard time this morning because Kim took his parking space. :)

Introducing RMI’s new VP of Operations!

We are very pleased to announce that God has provided a new VP of Operations! As you know, Rob Thompson and his family are raising support to go to Haiti as RMI missionaries. They anticipate leaving the office in December and leaving for Haiti in March, 2010. His leaving creates a huge “hole” in RMI’s international office operations staff.

Dan didn’t know when he asked a friend from our Sunday School class to join us in praying for God’s man to fill Rob’s shoes that God had been working in this friend’s heart, preparing him for a change in his life! He did pray about it, but not in the general, “Lord, help RMI find someone” type of prayer, but “Lord, could this be where you want me to serve you?” God answered that prayer….and now we are pleased to introduce Kim Rose as RMI’s new VP of Operations.

Kim was raised in western Michigan in a Christian family. He is no newcomer to missions and ministry. Between the ages of 13-16 he was involved in his family traveling ministry doing chalk art, ventriloquism and evangelistic outreach. He has served as a deacon, adult Sunday school teacher, and as a member of numerous church committees. His professional experience includes working as a sales manager, Human Resources Director, and general manager for a large building supply distribution in Southwest Florida. Most recently, he was president of Visions Millwork, Inc., his family owned and operated window and door supplier. He worked alongside his wife, Barbara, and their two sons, Brian and Mason. Kim and Barbara have been married for 33 years. They met while he was attending Grand Rapids Baptist College (now Cornerstone University) in Michigan. After they married, he continued his studies in human resource management at Spring Arbor College (Michigan).

Kim’s personal interests include art, reading and motorcycling. His favorite verse is II Cor. 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” The Lord’s teaching that the experiences we go through are God’s way of teaching us and equipping us with the tools we need to help others as they go through similar experiences is a very real inspiration to Kim.

He is excited about being involved in first hand ministry again. He feels that God has given him a vision for RMI’s particular programs, goals and mission. His faith journey up to this point and business experience has uniquely equipped him to serve in RMI as the Vice President of Operations.

Rob and Kim will be working together during the months of November and December as Rob orients Kim to RMI and his new position.

Pray for Kim

1. As he learns the ropes – there are a lot of details to learn!

2. He now needs to raise his support. He needs to raise a minimum of $2,000 a month within the next 4 months!

His email is kim.rose@rminet.org.