As you know, I live 100% on the giving of financial donors like yourself. It can often times be scary, and yet has been a thrill of a life time. How does one budget when they don’t really know whats coming in, and how does one give extravagantly when Jesus says give, especially when the pot is empty. These are my daily stories and I can say though times get sticky, there is always One Man, Jesus, you paves a way for my needs and at the same time fills them!
I felt like instead of asking for finances, I’d share stories and testimonies of what he has done in my life through the place of extravagant devotion to Him, through the means of leaving my job, going to the ends of the earth to minister to His beloved ones & to Him! It is truly such an honor!
In the spring of 2009, I decided that I wanted to go to Israel and walk the land where He too once walked. Though I knew it would be very different, it still was a desire within my heart. I had a job at the time, but had been sensing that He would lead me away from that job in the months to follow into a life of leaning on Him for my every need. Little did I know what that truly meant at the time! With what I was making, it was just enough to pay my living and vehicle expenses and offerings at church. There was usually no extra pennies, so I knew going to Israel would have to be a Jesus thing. Jesus rallied my friends around me and did a fundraiser benefit for me. Some others just gave when they heard I was going. Within 3 weeks I had money for a plane ticket, and money to use while there, money for play and to give away!
In the fall of 2009, I quit my job & moved to Kansas City. My housing had fallen through and so the week I was moving, received a call from a family inviting me to live with them, rent-free! What a blessing from the Lord! I also had just enough money to pay for my internship & an inner healing class I was taking. With no money to spare, buying food and the need for gasoline to get me from where I was living to class and back was quite the mystery. Don’t get me wrong there were some hard days, driving on fumes and forced fasting… but in my most desperate places, he stretched forth His hands in mercy, and gave and gave and gave and gave. Sometimes this came, from friends buying food for me, sometimes this came from mysterious white envelopes with a stash of cash in them, sometimes this came from receiving blank checks with notes that said fill it out, however much Jesus tells you to. Sometimes it came through food banks, and the stories could continue on! It was a time a great need, of great weakness, and leaning on the only One who was able to respond and give!
Throughout 2010, there were blessings of not having the finances to buying lawn mowers and having neighbors cut my lawn without requiring anything back. There was a landlord, who gave abundant grace on months that seemed like Jesus would never break in with rent or utility money, and at the last second, or sometimes a few days late…. in came the money! Our God is a personal God, who knows are needs and fulfills, but sometimes hitting rock bottom in the place of need is where he wants us, so we can remember we are nothing without him, and can do no good thing without him! And that ultimately, HE IS OUR PROVIDER.
In the Summer of 2011, I moved across the nation (to where I am currently serving), and because of economy lost all my partners within the same month. Moving over 30 hours away, with no cushion of resources, as a single women can be SCARY! And most days, were filled with tearful prayers, asking Jesus to move on my behalf, honoring the little yes in my heart that said, “Ill go to the ends of the earth with you.” During this entire year, into fall and winter… I experienced what seemed to be wave after wave of shattering losses. Losses in finances, losses in friends, losses personally of desires and dreams I felt like He was having me lay down, deaths of loved ones, losses in vehicles or even rides. It seemed like the more I leaned into the Lord, that farther I fell. I guess that is the way it should go. And then Jesus said something I’ll never forget… “You are in loss because you are fruitful. I prune those whom I love. I cut back on those who have a fruitful future, making room for the more that is coming!” 2011, was a big year for me, of walking with Jesus with the weakness of heart, knowing with full surrender that He is my strength, and my all!
In the winter of 2012 (currently) Jesus has begun to answer years of prayers of asking, even the little things I don’t really need but desire. I have had 2 really good friends come into partnership with my ministry. Its more than just receiving finances, but knowing that the people you love wants to invest in you &, are partnering with me in life and with Jesus! It’s been a desire of my heart, for my family and friends to fully enter into their fullness in Christ allowing me to partner with them, and then vise versa with me! Also after several months of asking for a vehicle, was given a free 2007 Chevy Impala! And after three years of praying, I was given a free Mac book Pro. I feel like Royalty! Actually I am Royalty! <3
I still have many needs, but I have learned through the years that God can handle my needs, when most of the time I can’t, but I can learn to lean on Him for it! Not everything just comes, sometimes I have had to learn the hard thing of asking, even when others don’t understand or don’t agree with my lifestyle before the Lord! Asking is hard, especially when you know the people your asking, don’t have overflow accounts like people used to in the past.
To be clear for all those who have directly asked me what my current needs are: I am in need of about 500.00 dollars more a month. As a single person, on a full time ministry status, that requires one to raise $700.00 a month. This is still poverty in the worlds eyes! I have been living on $200 or under for over 3 years now. I make it work, but I know the Lord is challenging me to get fully funded, that I may not be hindered in all that He is calling me to do!
If you would like to become a financial partner with me, I am looking for ones that will monthly commit to giving $5, $10, $20, $50, $100… whatever the Lord lays on your heart to give monthly, no amount is too great or too small. If this feels like something you would like to do, or you feel that pull on your heart to do, I would greatly appreciate it. There are no stipulations to this, and if you felt at any time you needed to stop, I would bless you in that decision.
For Tax Deduction you can write checks out to Ashland House of Prayer. Please do not write my name anywhere on the check. Send those checks to my personal home address, 1273 Iowa Street, Ashland, Oregon 97520. I will then turn the checks over. I will receive 100% of the donation.
For Online Giving you can go to www.paypal.com and type in my email whitneyhand@hotmail.com in the send money tab. From there you can type in whatever amount you are agreeing to monthly. In doing this option, you will not get a tax write off at the end of the year.
For Non-Tax Deduction you can write checks out to Whitney Hand. In doing this option, you will not get a tax write off at the end of the year. You may also send these checks to my personal home address, 1273 Iowa Street, Ashland, Oregon 97520.
Another Creative Way you can give, is through gift cards, Visa Gift Cards so I can get food or gasoline.
If you are unable to give financially, you can pray for me (which is like gold!), & even write me letters in the snail mail <3
