"Do you know how much people love you?"

This was the question I was asked as my friends counted the money from tonight's fundraiser.  Yes, I know that I am loved.  Yes, I know that I am supported in this endeavor.  But OH MY!!!  I was still not expecting this!  I knew it was going to be something amazing, because of how my friends were reacting as they counted...$1,233.51

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!  I can't!  It's still sinking in!

First of all, I was overwhelmingly blessed by this group of friends who were there as I was stressing about how I was going to come up with the money to go on this mission.  I shared with them one night, about how I didn't have enough money, and wasn't going to be able to raise the money for the trip as well as pay bills while I am gone.  But, even as I said these words, I knew that if God wanted me to go through with this calling to Africa, that He would pave the road, and make it happen.  And boy did He!!!  My session approved this to be a paid mission leave (like a sabbatical, but not a sabbatical), and my friends were already in the process of planning what would be a family fun night!  We had no idea that it would turn out like this!

Starting from the beginning, we knew we would have a good time, and make some money to go towards the trip.  I have super awesome, organized, crafty, good cooking friends who made this night happen!  I also have a super awesome supportive family, who was able to get a hold of Santa and his helper "Jingles" the elf, and have them drop in!

It was a fun night!  Movies, crafts, incredible things that people were selling, all to go towards this trip.  One friend has been selling her knitting and Christmas decorations, another selling crafts, and numerous people brought desserts.  All to go to this mission.

As they counted the money, I couldn't believe what I was hearing!  $1,233.51

That puts me over my half way mark!  I also found a few people to help in a variety of ways for the youth program while I am gone.  I still have 10 months to fundraise, and to find the rest of my volunteers!  God is providing!  God is going to continue to provide!

Even as I write this, I look at that number, and I realize that it is the same number that was given to me this week as a quote of what my airline ticket will cost.  WOW!!!

So, there you go!  "Do you know how much people love you?"  I am still learning!  But all I can say is thank you!  I am truly blessed!  I am loved, and I am so grateful to be the person that gets to go on this journey!  I'm not going alone, I have a very large group of supporters who are going with me in their hearts and in my heart.  And I couldn't do this without all of them, all of you!

And with joy in my heart, I say thank you!

Here are a few of my favorite moments of the night:  (I tried to fuzz out kids faces, since I did not get approval from families to post their pictures on this website, so sorry if the pictures look weird)

Santa reading "The night before Christmas"

The deposit