I have been so blessed in this process of raising funds for the trip and this weekend I experienced a case of awesome generosity yet again. So I figured, why not share them on there so you guys can be encouraged that God can and will provide for anything that is His will 🙂
Here are 3 stories about things that have really, really encouraged me!
One of the first donations I got came from one of my friends who is 6 years old named Matthew. He is my neighbor’s grandchild and lives in North Carolina (my neighbor and their entire family is like a second family). He is a very, very smart little boy and loves learning about different cultures all over the world. One night he was running around the house totally naked and told his mom about how some kids in Africa run around naked too. (He had just seen a tv show on it). She kind of dismissed the whole naked thing and moved on to telling him that I was going to Africa. He was completely intrigued and immediately said he wanted to help. He didn’t have much money, but what he did have, he wanted to give it ALL. Yes, ALL of it. He didn’t want another matchbox car or dvd, he wanted to give all his money to me so I could go help the African kids who needed it. So a couple days later…I received an envelope with his precious little writing on it and opened it…It was the most vaulable $3 I had ever received. Yes, 3 dollars isn’t that much considering the trip costs $4,600, but it wasn’t the money itself that was so valuable to me, it was his attitude of giving. It was the most encouraging thing to see someone willing to give EVERYTHING! Matthew may only be 6 years old, but he has the best heart attitude I know. And I couldn’t help but smile the rest of the day thinking about it 🙂
The second story is one about another friend who lives a couple states away named Sierra. Her company does a corn maize race every year with other workplaces and each year the winner receives $500 to give to any charity or cause they wish. Before the race, they had to turn in the name or company of who they were going to give the money to, IF they won. It was getting down to the wire on deciding when on one of the last days to decide, she got my support letter! Immediately she sent me an e-mail and told me to pray pray pray that they win because she and her workplace had chosen ME and my trip as their cause…Let’s just say a couple weeks later when I got the text that they had won, I literally squeeled with joy during my nursing class!! 🙂
The last story happend this weekend on a youth retreat with my church this weekend. I’m a small group leader for my church’s youth group and look forward to every event, especially Fall Retreat! It’s always an awesome time whether I go as a leader or a member of the youth and I also come home with plenty of encouragment. THIS time, however, the encouragment was amazing! The first night we got their our director, Michelle, announced that everyone needed to put their cans in a separate trash bin to be recycled for Kati’s Africa trip. This was the idea of a fellow leader, Rebekah, who knows I love the earth and I need money for my trip, so she figured why not collect alllll those cans from the weekend. She even made me a sign “Cans 4 Africa.” The concept behind the idea was great, but of course I knew it wouldn’t bring in TONS of dough since it takes quite a bit of cans to get any money. I was still so happy that they wanted to help though. Well…soon after Michelle made the announcement, one of our amazing cooks asked “Who did you say was going to Africa?” She pointed me out. He asked how much it was and shortly after handed her a wad of money. I was goofing around when she walked up to me and said “here. this is for Africa.” I looked down to see a handful of hundred’s and asked, “WHAT?!? Where did you get this?!?” She pointed to the kitchen. The man who gave me this money, $400, did not even know me. I had seen him at church before, but we had never met. He just heard the call and knew he should give, so he did. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!Let’s just say I’ve never hugged someone I just met so hard in my life. And looking back, I thought…all because of those cans. All because she announced the recycling of the cans for Africa, that’s how he heard. So the moral of this story is this: Sometimes what seem like very minimal fundraisers can actually turn into huge ones, it’s all about faith! Don’t be afraid to start small 🙂
There are so many other stories of generosity that I could share. So many of my friends and family have been incredible throughout this young journey just giving, giving, and giving. I have been encouraged beyond belief that this is God’s plan and he WILL provide, even if I am foolish and have doubtful thoughts sometimes.
But, yes, that is it. I just had that on my heart and thought I’d share 🙂
Praying for you guys!! That your fundraising is going well too!!
Wow- thats great encouragement. I’m at about 23% in my support…at first it was coming in fast, but now its been slowed down- alot of the people I know usually wait till the last couple months to send support in….which “worries” me because I don’t know if i’ll receive it all and have to pay some on my own. It definitely has made me tell God every night that I’m giving this to Him….it isn’t my thing- its His to worry about; total utter dependence upon Him! Sometimes I feel that i say that with too much pride though!
Great to hear how God is providing for you though!
Recycling cans sounds like a really good way to start out as well….thanks for the idea!!
Amanda
Did you just use regular pop cans? Do they get sold by the pound or what?
I’m glad it was encouraging for you 🙂 And yes, I know what you mean about people waiting and it is a little nerve racking..but just keep up the mindset of giving all to him!! (and I’ll try to as well!!) 🙂
And yes, just regular once. And they do get sold by the pound…
If you want other ideas for fundraisers:
Rummage Sale. (this was my biggest fundraiser. I asked family, friends and my church to give me their junk. I made over $700 in one day!!!!)
Sell Crafts. (This idea started by me making an etsy shop (etsy.com), but then became more of a out of home business. I make hemp bracelets and charge $5 apiece. I’ve made about 100 dollars in bracelets!)
Benefit Concert. (I plan on having one of these soon!! Great music, great cause= yayayaya)
Hope those help!! 🙂
-Kati
How did they just give you their junk and you made money off of it? Did you go and sell the “junk” then…or what do you mean?
Yes i have an etsy shop but sales have been very slow. I sold at a craft show not too long ago but didn’t make much so am looking for more craft shows!
Yes! Sorry, I didn’t explain well! I had a rummage sale (like a yard sale) and sold all the “junk” one Saturday a couple months ago. I put an ad in the paper, put signs out and everything. I got the idea from my church…we have one each year as a fundrasier for any mission trips the church is going on. The whole church brings tons of stuff and we have it in the gym… But yeah, it was really successful for me 🙂
Yeah, Etsy itself hasn’t really made me a lot of money buttt, it’s the attention it has gained for me that HAS been helpful 🙂 Good luck with the craft shows though!!
Kati…you are such an inspiration to me. Can’t wait to meet you girl!
I have a questions. You had mentioned that book by Shane Claiborne on one of my blogs. Did you read the whole book? Is it worth reading? I thought about buying it used off of amazon really cheaply to check it out.
Thanks! Now I definitely have to check it out!! I need a great book to read anyways…
Amanda, thank you 🙂 and just to reiterate, Yesssssssssssssss!!! it’s amazing!!!!!!!! At least, in my opinion 🙂 Just like any book, it does have some critics, but in general, people who are into things like we are (i.e. going to africa) absolutely love it. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things and he does an excellent job of tying in wonderful quotes and stories.
my only other suggestion would be to maybe buy it full pricemost if not all the money goes to those in need 🙂
I love that book! Shane Claiborne is such an inspiration. I got to see him speak at a 30 hour famine a few years ago and it was wonderful. I suggest that everyone reads it before our trip!