Dollar blues
As I write this post, "My Yahoo" tells me that a US dollar buys 1.03 Swiss Francs, meaning the dollar purchases 18% less than 2007’s average exchange rate (not counting inflation…)
Unfortunately, I’ve got to take a check to the bank this week, and waiting doesn’t seem to make it much better.
So today a gallon of gas is $7.60.
A postage stamp to the USA: $1.80.
A Big Mac: $6.50.
A coffee (not Starbuck’s): $3.20.
A chocolate Easter Bunny: Priceless.
I know times are tough for many, but ask your mission committee and boards what they are doing for missions with the continued decrease in the dollar.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
That’s incredible…………………and I grown at paying $3.15 for gas!
March 6th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I deleted a blog I’d written about gas prices over here (currently at $3.50 and rising daily). I have no complaints in comparison to the prices you are paying.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
No whining from Florida compared to what you’re facing.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Guess that’s why not many American missionaries are in the UK. It takes $2 (USD) to buy £1 (GBP); and petrol (gas) prices have been at least $10/gal for the past few months. I bought a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken to ‘help’ out during our recent move into our new home, and that cost $30. Needless to say, we don’t eat out regularly!
Not to mention all the home foreclosures and pensioners losing their money due to America’s sub-prime market failures.
I pray that the American churches will continue to support the good workers they have out in the fields, and understand what the real costs of commitment are. There are some great leaders in the church who are modern-day Josephs and we have faith they will continue to let God lead as they bless those who would serve with His gifts.
You and Wife can hop a cheap EZJet flight across the Channel and we’ll treat you to some homemade Mexican … no worries, and Wife can take a break from cooking for others.
(I saw some packaged, sliced Gruyere cheese in Waitrose yesterday and thought of you two!)
March 7th, 2008 at 1:18 am
PS: I sent my folks a B-day card and an Easter card yesterday, and it cost $4.00. (I bundled them into the same envelope to defray some cost.) And because Royal Mail delivers the post at the door but does not collect it, and the post is going to America, that means it has to be weighed at the Post Office, which means a car trip into town (our village post office was de-commissioned 15 months ago when the couple who ran it retired).
I gave up sending cards to all my family a couple years ago, when I realised how expensive it really was.