We're going to host an orphan for Christmas and we need to raise money.
We're going to host an orphan for Christmas and we need to raise... a lot of money.
Though I understand that "a lot" of money is a relative term for this hosting (because for many people who adopt... $3500 is just another installment of their sometimes $30,000 and up to raise) it was nothing less than daunting. Don't get me wrong, I believed that God would provide... but I also knew I'd have to work my little tootsie off for the next month.
First order of business: Make People Aware!
My last blog talked about how on October 31st when we signed up, I was already trying to figure out how we would fund-raise... well, my Facebook confirms that.
First thing I did was post her picture and said, "We'd like to introduce you to our Anna (well, for Christmas at least)! More information soon... but we just wanted you to meet her first!"
That was the start of a Facebook fundraising effort that has pretty much continued to this day. (I'm sorry, Facebook friends! I don't mean to continually bombard you with this begging!) Anyway, I let people know what we were planning on doing. I asked people what some good fundraising ideas were and I got rolling.
One of the ideas I got (and tweaked a little) was a $10 in 10 Facebook event. I didn't think this would be extremely successful, but God had other plans. We just invited ALL our friends to this event where we explained what we were doing and asked people to donate $10. We wanted to see how much we could raise in 10 days. I was constantly on Facebook and the Internet. I was keeping track of who was "joining," replying to messages from people, setting up a Paypal account (bringorphanshome@gmail.com --- just sayin'), and just constantly, well... bugging people. I'm not usually one to ask for money... except from my mom... for coffee... every so often... but that doesn't count. I had to really step out of my comfort zone and realize that people actually wanted to help! People wanted to be part of this extraordinary ministry we were going to be part of over Christmas! People wanted to encourage us and be involved. This was huge. I have never... ever... EVER... seen God's hand so evidently at work through His people - quite like I did during the early fundraising days! Within 10 days... we had raised well over $800. Knocked nearly $1000 down in the first 10 days.
.... how do I not praise God for such amazing handy-work!? We had friends and family all over the place donating $10 here, $20 there, $10 here, and sometimes, oftentimes, even more! That's God. We were in awe.
Meanwhile, I wasn't sleeping much the way it was... so I decided I would start another project. This way, when the 10 days were up, I'd have another project to announce!
I work at a magnificent hotel and we have another property near by (same brand) that had conference rooms. I asked the GM of that hotel if I could use a conference room for a silent auction....... for free.
As I sat in her office, biting my lip, praying that she'd say yes...
God's hand moved again.
Not only could I use the room for free because I was an employee of the hotel I work at (and she happened to be a former boss of mine)... She also offered to donate a free night from that hotel to be auctioned off!
After I picked my jaw up from the floor and stopped staring blankly wondering if I had just imagined that or if that was reality... I realized God had just given me another amazing opportunity! We just had to plan the day.
I'll admit... I was lacking sleep... and I didn't look at my calender very closely... I just knew that November 30th was open for us... one of the very few evenings that was open... as I told her the date we were thinking (and hoping)... I peeked at her calender of events and noticed it was super full... SUPER full... except for November 30th... which 'happened' to be completely and utterly empty.
Okay God... what are you up to?
By this point... I had no doubt that Anna would be with us for Christmas... and it was TOTALLY something God wanted to have happen. But why!?
Next up - asking local businesses to donate for the silent auction.
This part was actually much MUCH easier than I thought it would be. My boss gave us a free night at the hotel I work at, and he suggested I make a pamphlet up to give to businesses when I tell them about what we are doing. That being said, I went home, made a pamphlet, had it printed at digicopy, and off I went! With my 2-year-old in hand, and a strange determination - I traveled around my local city and the connecting city's businesses to ask for donations for days and days. Some people required me to write down what I was doing, some just took the pamphlet, and some just gave me things on the spot! I ventured over to the local Christian radio station where I know the manager and asked him if perhaps he could help us out with some advertising... He was happy to help! Not only that but he gave us some Veggie Tales movies, a CD, and the Monumental DVD to add to our growing collection of auction items!
Ummm, God... this is too good to be true... THANK YOU... but I'm a bit confused why you're making this so easy?
Meanwhile, I started making jewelry. I started with cute bottlecap necklaces. They didn't take up too much of my time to make - and they really were cute!! I thought, maybe - MAYBE someone would want to buy these to help with fundraising... I sold over 50 of them! I also started doing necklace and earring sets... and since have branched out. All that being said... It was just another way to bring in just a little more for our hosting fees!
The days up to the auction are a mess of blurry movement... I have no idea how I did anything. I think I was on about 3 hours of sleep a night, a high dosage of coffee, and adrenaline that sustained me till the auction was over. There were so many people that were willing to help with this event and I was blessed by their willingness to serve. Ladies from my mother-in-law's workplace baked cookies and bars and donated them so we'd have goodies to eat! The hotel donated their coffee. Our mini-church friends helped us set up, tear down, play live piano music, and oversee my jewelry table. We were overwhelmed by the response we had from the help!
The night arrived and we had fewer turn out than we were expecting. God knew who needed to be there and sent them... it was a success! With over 40 items up for auction, we sold everything and raised around $1500 from that one event!
God... this is amazing... but I'm so tired, I think I'm going to fall over.
With that, God replied - "Rest"
December 1st was the next day.
NEW HORIZONS TRAINING DAY!!
Yeah, planned that one great. Remember how I said I didn't check my calendar real close? Yup. We were out of the hotel around 10pm and up the next morning around 4:30am to head off to Chicago. Thank the Lord we were not driving. I think our bodies ached just from the lack of sleep... but we met up with all the other hosting families and took one vehicle down to Chicago together.
Rest.
The meeting was actually rejuvenating. It caused us to refocus on our reason for fundraising. We were informed of many issues we could face, and were getting prepared mentally and spiritually for this endeavor.
Rest.
We were meeting together with many like-minded people who had a desire to help children with no families. We met a few new people and made some great new friends.
After the auction and the $10 in 10... we had raised around $2300. We wanted to raise $3500 to cover some of the costs of Anna's stay... but we were really most concerned with raising at LEAST $3000.
But I really felt like I needed to rest from the fundraising.
We paid the rest of our host fees with our credit card and trusted that the Lord would provide the rest.
God, you told me to rest... I'm nervous to slow down... but I'll trust you.And then HE proved Himself faithful - again.
We were interviewed by the local news station which was amazing to get the word out about New Horizons.
People would walk up to us at church, show up at our door step, and mail would come that were various amounts... all adding up to the $3000 we absolutely needed to pay off our hosting debt.
Speechless.
God replied:
...For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine...
Psalm 50
Psalm 50
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