| Sonlight’s Board of Directors has set an annual budget which covers personal expenses only (see list below). The total budget for each missionary varies slightly depending on marital status, number of children, pending school loans, and specialty ministry expenses. Some personal costs, such as passport and vaccination fees, will not be paid for through mission funds. Sonlight’s Board of Directors allows the raising of additional support to cover school loans. If you have school loans or other outstanding bills, please notify Carmen Niehaus upon acceptance.
In addition to the budgeted amount, each missionary can raise a limitless amount of support to assist in ministry work.
Taking into consideration the aforementioned variables, the minimun budget for a single missionary is $15,600 (or $1,300 per month) for the first year. The minimum budget for a missionary couple is $31,200 (or $2,600 per month) for the first year. For missionaries with children, add an extra $1,200 (or $100 per month) per child for a first year budget. As time of service on the field increases salary and other expenses will increase, as will the support-raising expectations of missionaries to cover these increases.
A missionary's budget pays for the following expenses:
- Airfaire to and from Haiti - travel to Haiti in August, travel to the
U.S. in May or June
- In-country travel and taxes - includes all expenses for travelling to
Port-de-Paix a the beginning of the year, leaving the mission at the end of
the year, quarterly changes for renewing visas, and exit taxes. This also
includes summer travel expenses when making Sonlight presentations.
- Moving expenses and supply shipments to Haiti
- Health insurance - up to $100/month for health coverage. Sonlight will
not pay more than the premium nor provide coverage for missionaries who are
already covered under another health plan.
- Housing and utilities - includes rent, furniture, and utilities. Long
distance phone calls are not included.
- Monthly salary - personal money. FICA withheld. Raises are given annually
if finances allow.
- Mail service
- School day lunches - provided each school day for all teachers.
- Re-entry fund - $100/month savings held in escrow for when the missionary
leaves the mission field permanently. One-year commitment teachers do not
receive this, but are given $50 in their monthly salary.
- Mission work/ministry projects
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