Currently The Open Door EP By Death Cab For Cutie see related

Alright, so here's the deal.  As many of you know, I'm going to Madrid in May for about two weeks to work with a missions organization called International Media Ministries (IMM).  I'll be helping with and being trained in the use of various media (film, writing, internet--possibly others) to reach people with the Gospel.  Additionally, as many of you know, since my freshman year I've felt God's call on my life to spend at least a year after college doing foreign mission work.  I've already been out of school for almost a year at this point, and I feel that if I don't do it now, it might not happen.

So, I've been pondering my options, and I'm currently in a stalemate between two: spending a year in Madrid with IMM or spending a year in Kazakhstan helping to set up a Chi Alpha (XA) at a local university.  I've been allowing the two to bounce around in my head awhile, and I've been praying about it with, as yet, no audible direction.  

The benefits of IMM:

• I would be using my degree   
• I could use it on my resume when I get back
• I would be reaching a lot of people through media with the Gospel
• I would be living in freaking MADRID, SPAIN
• I would get to practice Spanish, since I've taken around 5 years of it and still am completely incapable of having a complete conversation
• They actually need a PR/Marketing person right now (which, technically, is different than my specialty, but... close enough)
• There's no definite time when I would NEED to go, so I'd have as much time as I needed to raise my support

The benefits of Kazakhstan:

• I would be helping with college students at a University--something I know and love
• I would be working with the director of student missions, an amazing guy who would be able to really disciple me
• I would have direct, face-to-face interactions with people, rather than reaching them through a camera
• It's a predominantly Muslim country (especially among Kazakhs--many Russians are Russian Orthodox, although frequently it has little to no impact on their lives), which I've felt God place on my heart

Honestly, it seems like it's no contest that I should go to Madrid.  But lately I've felt like Kazakhstan is where I should go.  However, I found out that their trip lives in mid-to-late August, much sooner than I'd anticipated leaving.  You see, to go on either of these trips, I need to raise a monthly budget based on generous donations by friends, family, and local congregations.  In the economy of fear we currently live in, that's especially difficult, so I was anticipating starting to raise my support in June and attempting to have it all raised by December.  Obviously, though, if I'm really supposed to go to Kazakhstan, I need to have it all raised by late July/early August.  I had planned to decide which trip I was going to go on after I'd come back from Madrid at the end of May, but I can't do that now.  So, to help me decide, I'd greatly appreciate it if any of you--my friends, family and community--would send me a private message letting me know if you think you'd be willing to support me on a monthly basis for 10-12 months--and, if you're able, an estimate of how much you think you could give.  I understand that that's a big commitment for anyone, but please pray about it.  I need to decide soon what I'm going to do and this will help give me an idea of my trip to Kazakhstan would even be viable.  Thank you so much!