Help Ayden Get Back on the Road to College

UPDATE: Hey y’all! Praise the Lord—we met our initial goal on GoFundMe for Ayden’s $3600 car repair! We’re so grateful for your generosity, prayers, and encouragement throughout this process.

We’re going to keep the campaign up just a little longer in case others still want to give. Anything beyond the original goal will go toward helping Ayden get set up for success at KSU—covering things like books, school fees, deposits, and other essentials as he starts this next chapter. For those of you who are (current/former) parents of college students, you know these costs add up fast and are no small thing.

One of the biggest shocks in our transition back to the U.S. has been just how expensive everything is compared to our former way of life in Bosnia. Your support—whether through giving, praying, or simply cheering us on—has truly inspired us in this season.

Thanks again for being part of his story in such a meaningful way!

Help Ayden Get Back on the Road for College

Hi friends and family,

Our oldest son Ayden has fallen on some hard times, and we're reaching out to ask for your love, support, and financial help. We’ve been back in the U.S. for just over a year after living overseas in Bosnia for 8 years. While we expected the transition home to be mostly smooth — this is our home culture, after all — it’s actually been really challenging for our family in more ways than one. This is the story of one of those hardships, and it centers around Ayden’s ongoing struggle to have reliable transportation as he prepares for college this fall.

Ayden’s Journey This Past Year

When we returned, Ayden hit the ground running. He was thrilled to get a paying job and spent the summer of 2024 working at a Christian camp before heading to Fort Myers, FL for a skate internship with Ride Nature — a Christian ministry that uses action sports to reach people with the gospel. He didn’t have a car during the internship but had his sights set on buying one when he returned to Athens in December. Just before he got back, we were told he’d be gifted a free 2001 Hyundai Elantra. Ayden was over the moon. He spent about $800 of his savings getting the car road-ready, only to run into a series of added mechanical issues and paying another $800 to fix the timing belt and water pump. Because his saving was getting zapped, he took a 2nd job at Joe and Sam's in Watkinsville to try to save more. But then came the worst news: the transmission was shot and would cost $3,000 to replace. That was too much. So, for about 6 weeks, Ayden drove a car that couldn’t go in reverse — just to keep working and saving. By May, we knew it was time to find a more reliable vehicle.

The “Reliable” Car That Wasn’t

We found a 2005 Toyota Matrix for $3,900 with low miles and it passed a 120-point inspection at Pep Boys! WooHoo!! Ayden took it to his second summer camp job in Talladega, Alabama thinking he was all set. Everything seemed great-until it wasn't last weekend. On his way back from orientation at Kennesaw State University (KSU), the car started lurching and shaking violently. Ayden pulled over, and we had it towed to a nearby mechanic in Heflin, AL. The diagnosis? It needs a new engine. After a second opinion, the diagnosis was confirmed! We got two quotes: $5,000 and $3,500. We’re going with the less expensive option, but it’s still a big hit.

Why We're Asking for Help

Ayden is a hard worker. He’s done a lot of things right — saved money, taken multiple jobs, lived frugally — but these back-to-back car issues have drained him emotionally and financially. We’re helping as much as we can, but we can’t cover it all. If Ayden pays for this engine replacement on his own, he’ll be starting his first semester at KSU with nothing in the bank. We’d love to give him a fresh start — not just a repaired engine — but a little cushion to start his college life off right.

How You Can Help

We’re trying to raise $3,500 to help cover the full cost of repairs and give Ayden some breathing room. If you’ve ever known the stress of being broke, stuck, while still trying your best — then you know what he’s feeling. Every donation, big or small, will help get Ayden back on the road and back on his feet. Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and supporting our family.