I guess we're doing this!

Check it out -from Love a Child's website - we're officially listed under their "Mission Team Schedule and Upcoming Events" How cool is that? I'm all packed and ready to go. It's a lot easier packing for 4 days instead of 10. But my suitcase is still full. A girl needs choices no matter where in the world she's traveling right? I've added a few things I didnt take to Africa such as a water bottle/spray bottle/fan. Yes, it's heavy b.c of the batteries but I think it may be well worth it since it's supposed to be 95 degrees while we are there and me and heat don't get a long well. at.all. And then I bought a handy dandy pocket/key chain clip thingy that's a spongy fan. Yep, I'm ready. Got my mosquito meds, my ear plugs, my noise machine, and my oh so comfy brand new CUTE scrubs. Let the adventure begin! 

Only thing I've been having a hard time with is finding an international calling card that will allow us to use our phone to call back to the U.S. Sure you can find tons going the other way around but not what we need. And we wont be able to stop and get one while we are there. Oh well... we might have to call our husbands and using the infamous "bobhadababyitsagirl" but instead it would be "wearehereandsafeandloveyou" It's going to cost both of our first born sons just to say that, which isn't exactly fair because Alisha has one more son. Ha!

We'll find a way to let our husbands know we have arrived safely. Bon Voyage - which seems quite fitting b.c Haitians speak French. Granted, Creole French but I try :)

Hello Exhaustion, Our name is Open Hand

I think we've met. In fact we met yesterday and around 1am when we finally got home and then when we had to get up this morning. Whoever says fundraising is easy... well, I'll be polite and leave it at that. Last night, after many weeks of planning, preparing, inviting, and gathering auction items OH had their first major event with both men and women called Party by the Pool. We had gracious hosts who opened their gorgeous home and incredible back yard entertaining area to us to have our event.

With the threat of rain at 70% for the entire day and into the evening we kept praying and praying and pushing back the rain. It amazes me that God is in charge of the weather - We watched as the chance of rain literally went down to 0% for the whole day and then stayed at 60% for the evening which was when our event was taking place - from 7 to 9pm. I really really didnt want to move the event indoors b.c the outdoor area was so awesome so we kept praying and watched as the chance for rain kept going down until it was nothing until 10pm. Our poor hosts ran around frantically yesterday, cleaning their house and trying to figure out how to host a party of 60 in their home while we prayed the rain away, hour by hour.

Alisha and I arrived 3 hours before the event to begin setting up the auction tables, items, registration tables, raffle table, Croc drop off, microphone, beverages, food..... you get the idea. We did it all. Literally.

Needless to say the certain threat of rain kept a lot of our guests from attending but those that did attend had a fabulous time eating and drinking and learning about Open Hand.

That being said there are a few things we have learned for next time:

1. Even thought we were at a multi million dollar home on the lake - the drive is just too far for people.
2. People listen to the weather man. Even when he's wrong (which btw, is most of the time)
3. Silent auction items need to be located in a more convenient location.
4. We need a decent sound system
5. You are going to bust your butt to get these events in place etc... and you may not collect your goal. It's a lot of work for little reward. 
6. Can't wait to get our determination letter so that we can get corporate sponsors and company donations. It sure would be easier than what we've been doing.
7. When we get our determination letter and we hit up those big donors, we will have worked hard for every dollar we collect. This is not easy. It is exhausting. Like I'm so tired, I'm gonna cry, exhausting.

I think that's all my tired brain can think of right now. We managed to collect 37 pairs of Crocs™ and enough money for 127 loans - a third of what we need for Haiti.  I had set my sights on raising the money for all 300 loans we have committed to but it didnt help that only a third of those who RSVP's showed up.

We have one more Sole Sister party set for June and hopefully another big Family Fun Event at the end of July but we really need to get something on the books closer to Atlanta.

Step Out of the Boat!

One of my most favorite stories in the bible is when Peter walked on water. Sometimes I think we dont analyze that story enough. We don't think about what all physically had to happen before he walked on water and this is where I find my soap box and jump on it! Ready? In order for Peter to walk on water he had to literally pick up his leg and put it over the side of the boat. Profound huh?

You will never know if you can walk on water UNLESS you raise your leg up and over the side. This past weekend we had a women's conference and one of the key phrases that stuck out to me was, "Faith or fear?" Faith or fear? Which are you going to chose?

So yes, we have timing against us in the form of the government being a YEAR behind in assigning determination letters for non profits but we are also legally able to collect funds and they are all retroactive. We have some friends who have also started a non profit and are in the same boat (no pun intended) we are but they are afraid to collect money. He called me the other day and I just went into full on preach mode. We aren't waiting for that letter to collect money. If someone wants to give to OH we will gladly take it. We are going to live by faith not fear.

We have this huge male and female party set for next Saturday and our hostesses are wealthy, influential women in our community and they are inviting their friends to this 'party by the pool'. This is the night where we will host our first silent auction and the night where I am expecting to collect $10k towards the micro loans we have committed to in Haiti. So it's no wonder that these wonderful women have had problem after problem since signing on to host for us. From car troubles, to serious family issues... these women are under attack. Which is a good thing and a bad thing. A bad thing b.c of the obvious but a good thing because it means the enemy doesn't want us to succeed and doesn't want us to raise money that will literally change the lives of hundreds and hundreds of women and children throughout Haiti and Africa.

Haiti here we come.....

Wait. Haiti? Yes, you read that correctly. We've had way too many things fall into place the last month that it has been impossible to ignore the potential Open Hand has to partner with a well known, long standing non profit in Haiti who would like us to take on their micro loan program. From finding a woman, training her, interviewing potential borrowers to scouting out the market place. We have 3 days to do it and we are jumping in.

As of this date we have gotten our largest donation so far but are believing for much MUCH more. The party we are having on May 18th - we are looking to bring in $10,000 between the silent auction and donations. God willing.

So a month from today, we will board a flight going in the completely opposite direction we had ever intended to see if Open Hand can partner with this organization. As of now it looks like it will be Alisha and me but we really would like our husbands to meet up with us but we aren't sure if they can pull it off. One of these days they will come with us and see what their wives are up to!