I am still getting goose-bumps. From setting up at 5am to closing down around 3:30pm the
Congo Carnival was an incredible, inspiring, blow-me-out-of-the-water- day! In
fact, I’ve found myself putting off writing this post because I can’t find the
right words to summarize my joy, gratefulness, & admiration surrounding the
whole event. Here is my best shot…
Why am I shocked by His goodness & faithfulness? Why am
I surprised that he has chosen to stir hundreds of hearts in my community to come together for orphans? He is God. He cares
about me, my world, us. He loves humanity. And, He has a heart for orphans. I
believe he rained down blessings on this community as our hearts began to match
his.
Ironically, if I had known how fast this Heart for Congo
group would spread & how big the Congo Carnival would get I would have been
too fearful to get started. I think I am not alone in that feeling. We doubt that we can do it- that we can
make a difference. Saturday exposed that lie – we did it! And going forward, I may not know what I am doing but WE are
doing it!
I’m not sure where to go from here except that I know God
wants me to continue fundraising for a year. He has promised me his blessing
& his protection for a year. I’m actually starting to believe Him!
I think what has amazed me the most (besides the fact that
we brought in over $11,000!) is that I never once had to beg people or recruit
help. YOU ALL OFFERED your gifts & what you were able to do. And each of us
was needed to make it happen. If Ry hadn’t suggested the yard sale I wouldn’t
have thought of it. If Saedi hadn’t come up with, “I know, let’s have a
bean-bag game!” we wouldn’t have considered carnival games & the importance
of including family & kids. If people hadn’t donated items there would have
been little to sell. If others hadn’t come to help me organize & brainstorm
items would have been overlooked. If others hadn’t sent encouraging notes &
spoken words of life into me I would have begun doubting & questioning. If
the Gades hadn’t offered to set up "Congo Carnival North" we would have missed
blessing a huge portion of our community & foregone a huge sum of cash! If
others had ignored their heart promptings to send a check or to deposit online
we wouldn’t have exceeded our goal. If people hadn’t come early to move boxes
we wouldn’t have been set up in time. If the Wood family hadn’t crafted
beautiful signs we would have looked like just another large yard sale. If
people hadn’t baked we would have missed out on new interactions & a huge
chunk of cash. If crafters hadn’t sent their flags, hair clips, ponchos,
buttons, onesies, pottery, magnets, etc we wouldn’t have stood out. If there
weren’t balloon twisters, face painters, cookie decorators, bounce house
guards, people wiling to tie prizes on a fishing pole, bean bag helpers bending
all day long, sellers willing to be kind to all, off-site food stands &
other sales we couldn’t have done it. If others hadn’t come to clean up we
would have been overwhelmed with exhaustion. But WE did it. YOU have inspired
me. YOU have made this journey more than about myself & my dreams &
passions & calling. You have come alongside me & we are doing this
together. We are truly changing lives locally & abroad. These Congolese
orphans are getting electricity & we are well on our way to feeding an
entire orphanage for a year! Thank you for your passion, hearts, dedication,
dreams, hope, & love!
1 Corinthians 13:2
“If I have the gift
of prophesy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans & possessed all
knowledge, & if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t
love others, I would be nothing.”
No comments:
Post a Comment