Several months ago, my friend and I came up with the idea of having a fundraiser to raise money for the children in the DR Congo...more specifically money for food for the orphans. This idea came about after 5 children in our agency's orphanage in the DRC died of starvation (http://mljadoptions.com/Media.aspx?articleID=908). We realized that our t-shirt collection (in which we collected 400+ new shirts to give to the children in the orphanages) was not enough. There are over 13 million orphans and abandoned children in the DRC. In the DRC, 10% of children die before the age of one. Nearly 30% of children under the age of five suffer from undernutrition. We feel called to help feed these children so they will have a chance at life...a chance to wear our t-shirts.
So, we sat down in December and began planning this event. It was after that moment that I realized this is a risk...What if no one gives donations for our silent auction? What if no one comes to the event? What if no one really cares about orphans half way around the world? I became stressed at having to ask people for donations. I became stressed at the idea of failing these beautiful children who are left behind. I became focused on me, my shortcomings, my inability to take a risk...and I took my eyes off of the starving children and the God who sees and knows all things.
My husband sent me a text this week that stated...
"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called...the issue isn't whether you're qualified, its are you called?"
I am not qualified to elicit donations (In fact, I hate asking people for stuff because I have a profound fear of them saying "no"...which I unfortunately take as a rejection of me). I am not qualified to host a fundraiser. I am not qualified for any part of this event. However, I do believe I am called. I went to the DRC, I saw the poverty, I visited the orphanages and saw the beautiful children, and now I am called to give up my foolish pride and need for control in order to make a difference in the lives of these children.
On March 22, 2014, my friend, Sarah Price and I will host a silent auction/fundraiser at the Price Parlor to raise money to feed the children at two orphanages in the DR Congo, Africa. We are partnering with Global Orphan Foundation's Pebble Project (http://www.globalorphanfoundation.org/the-pebble-project.html).
I am going to take a risk. I am going to ask for your help....
Will you would be willing to donate something for our auction?
If you own a business, a good or service from your business would be a wonderful item for us to auction off. If you don't own a business, maybe you could make a "theme basket" (examples--movie night basket with various movies and popcorn, etc; spa basket with a gift card for a manicure and pedicure and some nail polish, etc.) or donate an antique. Be creative!
Will you come out to the silent auction/fundraiser and bid on some of the items? Will you take an evening and give some money towards a cause that is bigger than yourself? This morning in church, our pastor stated these statistics...if you make more then $20,000 a year, you are rich. If you make more than $39,000 a year, you are filthy rich. So, rich friends...I am going to ask again will you come out and support the Pebble Project's vision to feed and raise up strong children in the DRC?
I am going to close with a bit of self disclosure (also known as honesty)...I have been dreading writing this post. I don't want to offend people. I don't want people to reject me or my passions. However, this morning, Malachi was playing on my I-pad and came across the auction flier (the one shown above), he looked at the picture of the little boy looking in the window and said "Me, Mommy? Malachi?". I thought to myself, "It could very well have been." With that convicting moment, I decided I would write this post, I would take a risk so that the orphans in the DRC have a chance at life.
No comments:
Post a Comment