BBS Christmas 2024 Financial Report

To read more info: https://balibiblestudy.com/21st-december-orphanage-christmas

For 75 people, including volunteers: Rp. 3,947,573

• Groceries for meal prep: Rp. 1,975,650 + Rp. 610,344 (Chicken)

• Rice: Rp. 461,579

• Fuel for transport: Rp. 200,000

• Cooking Essentials: Rp. 400,000

• Volunteer Meal (3 people): Rp. 300,000

• Gifts: Rp. 4,456,427

• Cash Donation: Rp. 1,000,000

  • Total: Rp. 9,404,000

  • Received donations in Cash: Rp. 8,504,650

Added donations:

• Received jewelry from donor—wrapped for individual gifts.

• Red bucket for water container.

• Material for clothing (not feasible for donation, kept in storage with the BBS for Easter donation in form of clothing.)

• Snacks and added clothing & shoes from volunteers.

Individual contributions:

• Volunteers paid for their own transport.

Several materials donated were out of quality/too damaged to be donated. This was thrown out.

We believe that even though they are orphans, they deserve nothing but usable and well-managed second-hand goods, or even new goods.

Condition during time of implementation:

• Sunshine on the 20th. 3 volunteers found their way to the jungle to help with cooking preparation and gift wrapping finalization. Far and rigorous road, God-willing, arrived safely.

• Heavy rainstorms and thunderous weather on the D-Day, 21st Dec 2024. Flood all over Bali and no sunshine during the day until nightime.

• Many volunteers cancelled last minute.

• Volunteers prepared to rent a car before hand and were able to arrive at the location safely.

• All team members arrived late in the orphanage due to weather and other logistical and communication issues.

• Meal prep went well, and event went completely off-script, but Spirit-guided. Everyone was fed well, gifted, and smiled for the day. :)

Takeaways from this event:

• Proverbs 16:1-25. We humans make plans, but the LORD has the final word. We may think we know what is right, but the LORD is the judge of our motives. Share your plans with the LORD, and you will succeed.

  • We prayed for weeks to have good weather and prayed for God's provision that even if rain may come, the volunteers will still be sent to serve and complete the work He has assigned to us.

• 2 Corinthians 6:3. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

  • There were delays due to car pickups, etc. In the future, the hope is to have better coordination and a heart and mindset that is set on serving so as not to cause inconvenience to everyone or the people we are serving. There is also importance in choosing a person in charge and allowing them to lead—and praying for your leaders that they may lead in wisdom in each situation.

  • During the service, there are certain behaviours that cause distress to others or make others unevenly yoked due to poor physical and mental state. The takeaway for this is to be well-rested prior to your services and ministry so that others may not be unequally yoked in service because one needs to take too many breaks (not because of sickness, etc, but simply needing a slumber or require many breaks in between-low endurance.) But even if you are suffering, learn to deny yourself and carry the cross. This is the discipline we need.

    • Hebrews 12:11: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it".

      • Despite this takeaway, many others have shown great strength... I commend many of our brothers and sisters at this time. They went the extra mile through the rain and flood with bikes, hours away in transportation. Then proceeded to help with a smile, with happy hearts, and most importantly, with no self-agenda.

Follow up based on event:

• We are looking to set up several online classes to help upskill the kids and young adults.

• There are many visually impaired adults that are trying their best to get a job, but no one is accepting them. Praying for God-given opportunities to allow them something to do that allows them to either move out or contribute back to the orphanage.

• Internship opportunities.

• Ocassional meal drives/distribution.

• Required funds for their education—fundraising to occur soon.

• The biggest challenge they face is in mentorship and mindset nurturing. Praying for God to show the way on how we can help through this.

Conclusion:

• This was the Bali Bible Study community's first service to the orphanage. Which we will create more of as opportunities of serving in the future.

• God's plan prevailed, and we learned to adapt as we went with different personalities, weather, situations.

• God will always equip us to do good.

  • Hebrews 13:20-21: Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

• We will not stop here. This is only the beginning. And until He comes to lift us up, let's lift others up!