The cost involved...

We just finished dropping a bunch of letters in the mail, letting people know what we're up to and asking people to consider partnering with us. One question we have started to get is, "why is it so expensive for our family to move to and live in Ethiopia? It's Africa, right? Shouldn't things be cheap there?

I am as surprised at anyone at how much we are proposing it will cost for us to live there. We are estimating that it will cost us approximately $3,200 per month and then an additional $500 per month in ministry expenses. So, why does it cost so much?

1.) There are expenses involved that most of us never think of needing; costs such as needing to pay Social Security (yes, even while not living in the US), carrying medical insurance which includes medical evacuation in case of something serious and to cover furlough 3 years from now, and the need to save approximately $5,000 to return to the US three years from now.

2.) Living in the city is more expensive. While we typically think of cheap living expenses when we think of Africa, living in the city is different. Somewhat similar to here in the States in that regard. The cost of housing, food, transportation, etc. is more expensive in a city of 4 million people, just like its more expensive to live in Philadelphia than it is to live in Western PA.

3. For many things it costs more for Westerners to live than it does for Africans. David Maranz in his book African Friends and Money Matters talks about how in Senegal, those perceived to have means are charged 3.4 times more for water than those who are poorer. As Americans we are perceived to have means (and are rich compared many Ethiopians) and therefore are expected to pay more for most things. It is a different approach and philosophy than what we are used to in the West, where its the same price for everyone. Our understanding is that in Ethiopia those who have more are expected to pay more and those who have less are expected to pay less.

4. We have had to build some unexpecteds into our budget. Exactly what will it cost us for monthly transportation? We've tried to take our best guess and aim high. Since we will be living entirely off of the support we raise (we will not be able to get jobs in Ethiopia - at least initially) we have had to factor in the unexpected. Unlike here in the States where if things got tight we could get another job, there we'll be living off of what comes in for support. So, we've had to budget with that in mind - trying to prepare for the unexpecteds the best we can.

If you'd like to have a look at our budget proposal, click here .

Thanks for caring for us and partnering with us!