For a little while now I’ve been looking for an idea for a web application to build. I’ve always wanted to, but never really found anything that I believed in enough to put the time and effort in. That is until recently. During my first couple years as a missionary it’s been surprising how difficult it is to keep track of my support and also to keep up with my supporters. I know it sounds easy, but it’s been one of my biggest challenges.. and I’m not they only one. Most people here at Thrive struggle with the same problems. I’ve been using Quicken to track all my donations and expenses but it still doesn’t really give me the information I need. A program like that is overkill. I need to know simple things. I need to know how much money came in this month, who gave, who didn’t give this month that made a commitment to, what supporters have I not talked with in a while, etc.. These are just a few of the questions I am going to try and help people answer with Giving Tree.

Things are still the very early stages. I’m currently just figuring out how things will work. No pretty designs yet, just drawings on napkins. Actually the stuff is on paper, but I always wanted that story of how it all started from something that was written on a napkin. I’m really excited about Giving Tree because not only will help me, other missionaries, and ministries become better stewards of the finances God has in-trusted to them, but hopefully it will be a source of income for me as time goes on.