Let the Fundraising Begin!!!!

Last Friday, our group had our first fundraiser.  We had a bake sale at the home of Kristi J.  It was so much fun, a great time for fellowship, and gave the traveling group a time to discuss some of our details.  For me, it was the first time I'd met two of the other travelers.  It's still amazing to me that I'm going to travel around the world with these other women that I don't know very well.  It's weird.  I just have this calming feeling that it's meant to be, though.  I don't know it now, but there are great things in store for us, and I am anxious to grow in faith with these girls.

So......our bake sale raised almost $400 for the group.  I think that's a pretty good start!  Tomorrow night, we're hosting a Chick-fil-a night in Brentwood.  They have offered to give us 15% of the proceeds from diners that mention our group.  We have definitely been spreading the word!  Next week is our women's consignment sale.  I think that's going to be a big hit, too.

The cost of the trip is still an issue for me, but I have to know that God will find a way to provide.  There are so many things that I do daily, weekly, monthly, and so on that I can eliminate to save money.  When you really reflect on the way that we live, there are so many unnecessary things that we feel entitled to.  Right now, I'm sitting in my air conditioned bedroom (luxury), in my queen size bed (luxury), with my down comforter (luxury), with the ceiling fan running (luxury), typing on my computer (luxury), washing a load of laundry (luxury), and settling in for a nice, comfortable night's rest (luxury)!!!!!  That's just the last 30 minutes or so of my day.

I pray that God will help me to see my unnecessaries and really focus on helping others.  May I go with less so that others may have more.  Please pray for our Sierra Leone traveling team.  Please pray for the homeless family at my school.  I can't help but wonder where they are tonight.  Please pray for our families.  It seems that sickness and bad news surround us.  Finally, I pray that God will use me as he sees fit.

You Don't Have to Go Around the World to Help Those in Need

Today was a tough day.  God presented me with an 18 year old boy that I can't seem to get out of my mind.  I want to help him, but I don't know how.  How do you help an 18 year old boy, whose mother has lost her job and house, that the system sees as an adult, and that the school system has given up on.  The boy is homeless, split up from his family, and doesn't have the credits to graduate this year.  When everything seems to be going wrong, he just can't catch a break.  I've called shelters and friends to explore options, but I'm not sure that he or his family will fall into any "category" that qualifies for help.  Please pray for him and his family.  I will continue to work for him and try to get his mother back on her feet.  There are so many needs right here in our own back yard!