The majority of our expenses are covered through the Global Advance fund of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Global Advance is really a wonderful thing; it pools together resources from across all our churches in Canada, and then provides for all the basic needs of Alliance workers around the world, including housing, medical, living allowance, etc. We are so thankful for the support we receive from Global Advance and encourage our friends and family that giving to Global Advance is a great way to support us, because this is the fund that keeps us on the field.
The Alliance, however, sets up two additional funds for each international family to make it possible to cover expenses that do not fall under Global Advance. The first, is called our 'work' fund. We are able to use the money in this fund to cover expenses related to our living and working here, such as providing for practical things that support our ministry--like key books and journals for our seminaries--or helping us meet a specific need that we see locally, as well as covering special administrative expenses like our driver's licences (which we have to renew every year).
The other fund is called our 'outfit'. This has been designed to help with the expenses of 'outfitting' yourself in a new country. This year, any money in our outfit fund will help us pay for Flora's school, which will cost us $3000.
Donations to our work in Indonesia can be made through any Christian and Missionary Alliance Church by clearly marking your gift 'to the work of Ben and Kari Elliott, Indonesia', or 'to the outfit of Ben and Kari Elliott, Indonesia'.
Donations can also be made online by following this link to the secure Canada Helps website.
At the bottom of the page there is a dialog box where a message/ instructions can be passed along to the CMA office which processes all contributions. To contribute to the specific needs of our family, simply make a note in this box designating your gift to 'the work of Ben and Kari Elliott, Indonesia', or 'the outfit of Ben and Kari Elliott, Indonesia'.
If you have any questions, or a technical problem, our friend Greg Todesco (who is remaining in Canada!) has offered to field any concerns. He can be reached at greg.todesco@gmail.com.
In so many ways we are so very thankful for all the people that God has put in our lives, people who encourage us, and care about us, and pray for us, and think about us. Our lives would be very empty without all of you. We are also very thankful for your financial support; it makes such a huge difference in the way we organise our day-to-day life. Thank-you so much for your friendship, and thank-you for your consideration in supporting us and our work in Indonesia. -- Ben and Kari