NOTE: This should go on the My House Athens general blog. But I have not created it.... Yet. :).
Let's call this a Guest Post, shall we?
MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIENDS!
I never liked doing it, calling fifty people to ask them if they wanted to buy my overpriced wrapping paper and chocolate bars for my school each and every year. But I'd hunker down and do it. I realized when I got to college and started the course work for my major in marketing that a part of the problem for the kids in school is that they've got no earthy idea WHY they are selling wrapping paper. "For my school" was about all I could ever get out of anyone for a reason and besides that, nobody ever asked my opinion about what I would like to sell. So, year after year I made calls to sell what was explained to me by potential buyers to be extremely high priced gift wrap and I was sent out not so passionately armed with doing so "for my school". I think it must have been around the fourth grade that I decided that any kind of future where fundraising was involved was just not for me.
BaHAHAHA.
Well that's that now isn't it. Here I am, for the moment, the director of My House Athens, Inc. and for the first three or so years we fed homeless women and children and did art and language outreach in the community each week, held showers and parties for families who had fallen on hard times, and worked with at-risk youth across the area without asking for much except help with dinners now and then and a few shower gifts. I was comfy with that.
But God decided to amp up the passion, stretch our reach and tear me right out of comfy, "I got this non profit thing handled" land. I am equal parts excited about the incredible growth and opportunities God has given and uncomfortable about how it's all going to happen now that it is so GOD kinda BIG. I always spout that saying, "well, if you could do it without God then why would you do it at all?" And now God has super sized it on me. I shall be more careful with my little quips.
You may be wondering if this is a blog post or a solicitation. The answer is yes. I must solicit 50 today :). Hehehe. I wanted to open the curtain on funding life. We all have to do it- to eat, and raise our families, go to college, and help others. It's such a funny topic and I'm kind of tickled at myself at how weird I am about giving ( yeh sure, here!!!) but asking for help (awkward!). But I've solved some if those school/gift wrap issues. First of all, the people at My House Athens are all PASSIONATE about the mission or cause that they stand behind. There will be no wondering why they are asking you to drop by My House Athens for a cup of coffee and to check out the new leather bracelets from Africa, pottery from Brazil, or beadwork from Cambodia- they will give you an earful! Go ahead, ask me a question about orphans in Ukraine! Did you know you can have a private dance lesson with a member of our Breakin'Stringz Stringz teaching crew and the money will help us get to Ukraine? Yes, indeed! If there is ever gift wrap, it will be handmade in a remote village somewhere lost in the world and it will be amazing.
I read this wonderful article and found so many things to ponder about my own heart. I hope you enjoy it.
Your Heart Follows Your Money from The Barnabas Group.
As we round out 2013 and head into 2014, I would like to ask that you drop by either here online www.myhouseathens.com or send me an email so we can meet at the prayer + mission base* at 1055 Prince Avene. Athens, Georgia to see more about where your heart might connect. I am learning that my heart indeed does follow money and though I've never had a hard time giving it, I do wrestle with pride to ask for it. Please pray for my heart in this area as I am stretched WaaY beyond me and FAR into "ONLY GOD" territory as the acting director of this beautiful organization. Thank you so very much.
laura@myhouseathens.com
*My House Athens is a registered 501(c)(3) non profit. Your donations are tax deductible.
All my love and gratitude.
~L