Christmas Quilt WON!!

We have a winner!!

My "Aunt" Karen Faulkenberry has won this year's Christmas quilt!

A HUGE THANK YOU

to all who donated (we raised $900!!!) 

and if you didn't win, my Aunt Nancy has informed me that she already has another

quilt in mind for next Christmas!

A BIG THANK YOU

also goes to my mom for helping me get the word out - there's only so much you can do on the other side of the world!

This is my fabulously crafty Aunt Nancy who has made two beautiful
 Christmas quilts to help me raise funds to stay here in Mongolia!

"You'll shoot your eye out kid"

This is my favorite Christmas movie (A Christmas Story) and if you haven't seen it, then my quote in the title of this entry doesn't make sense. So you need to go see it immediately - it's usually on TV around the clock during the Christmas season.

Anywho, I have felt at times that this journey to Mongolia has been my "Red Rider BB Gun" - a gift that I've been pining for all year long. I've been told that I'll "shoot my eye out" so to speak but it hasn't made a difference in my desire to go and at several points throughout the past year, I didn't know how it was going to happen. It still may not - you never know what tomorrow brings.

However, if things keep going the way they are, then I am now about THREE months from leaving home and making UB, Mongolia my home for 2.5 years.

He has been so faithful and I now have approximately 72% of my first year covered with another 14% on it's way over the next month or so! As I come closer to the goal of serving in Mongolia, I am getting more and more excited about what the Father is doing there and how I'm going to be able to be a part of that! Watching how He has brought opportunity after opportunity to raise the money needed to go (several fundraisers, possessions I've been able to sell, jobs I've taken in exchange for donations, friends/family/strangers that have selflessly contributed) has amazed me.

THROW ME OUT OF THE COUNTRY! CLICK HERE FOR YOUR INVITE!

I invite you to come to the Denton Business Center in Denton at 6pm on December 3rd. We're going to celebrate what He has done and is doing! We'll have a few Mongolian dishes (with brisket as a back up), face painting, the drawing for the Christmas Quilt (look to the left and get your tickets!!!) and more. I'm inviting everyone to come and if you're not already a part of this incredible journey through prayer and/or finances, I'm inviting you to come and learn what the Father is doing and think about joining us!

Jeans, chocolate, coffee - a chance to support a teacher...what else do you need?

Fundraiser alert! A friend of mine, Julie Stokes, has a friend who sells Vault Denim jeans and they have gotten together to throw a fundriaser for me! Evidently these will be designer jeans for less - who doesn't love jeans?! I usually live in jeans and I'm told they should have all sizes available so I'm excited.

This Friday, October 7th from 4-6pm at the RE/MAX North Associates office with 10% of the proceeds going to the Mongolia Mission!
Here is the website that Julie's friend, Wendy has set up:
http://www.vaultdenim.com/wendybroyles

I'll also have Just Love Coffee samples available for donations as well as...

OREO TRUFFLES!!!

Buy coffee = impact lives!

I'll admit, I'm not a coffee drinker but I know that it is a lifeline for many people - as someone who is NOT a morning person, I should probably love the stuff. But until then, I'm just going to provide you with a way to buy good coffee and help me get to Mongolia!

www.justlovecoffee.com/bran

Here is a great website that was recommended to me to help raise funds for Mongolia - just go to this personalized website and buy some coffee (they have other products as well) and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Mongolian mission! They are a 100% Fair Trading company and I believe all of their coffees are USDA organic - LOVELY! The coffee is shipped directly to you and the contributions go to ELIC - it's perfect!

By the way, I'm at 52%!!!

Fundraising Update #1

As I've said before, when I first found out I would need to raise funds for this journey, I groaned - no one likes asking for money or giving money, especially in this economy. But the Father told me to have faith and I've now come to see this part of the plan completely different. I have realized that He already has a team in place - He already knows who He wants to be a part of this and now I just have to find them. I know it sounds corny but I can't even begin to tell you how cool it has been to see who He has burdened to give - whether with funds or other gifts. I am now at 47%!!

Raising Funds - FAQ's

When I first realized I needed to raise funds to go to Mongolia, I grumbled. No one likes asking for money, especially in these economic times. Then I realized that it's the Fathers plan that others get to partake in the work done when He calls people to tell others about Him.

So besides sending out newsletters, this blog, Facebook and other fundraising avenues, I also got the opportunity to dog/house sit for some friends last weekend.

This is Duke. You can see how high maintenance he is. I also got to take care of his sister, a chiuaua mix named Minnie. Loved it!!

Along with fundriasing, I've had to redefine how I feel about fundraising - this helped:

Philipians 4:14-20

 ¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

A few things to know:

• Your gift is tax-deductible
• I'm looking for monthly supporters but am very grateful for one time gifts as well
• I am required to have 70% of the funds already contributed and/or pledged before I go (I'm leaving in March 2012)
• I am required to have more contributed this first year as it will include 5 months of training (to learn Mongolian, learn what to teach and how to teach, etc.), visa, shots, plane tickets, insurance, etc. My goal is to have 25 - $100 monthly supporters this year however I have people giving less and more per month. What you choose to give or not give is between you and the Father.
• If I don't have 70% raised/pledged by the time I need to leave, I will stay in Denton and keep working on raising funds until the following March.
• I am contributing monthly to this mission as well
• I would love to answer any other questions you may have - just email me!

I am also lucky to have friends throwing fundraisers!

Gina Bowser (middle) was sweet enough to throw a Silpada party to help me raise funds today. My friend Wayla (left) was one of the several ladies who dropped by and bought jewelry - she got a really nice "hammered" sliver watch - LOVE IT! I bought two pieces...this was not easy to do as I wanted about 90% of the catalog. For the next couple of days, you can place an order online: www.silpada.com/gina.browser

Other fundraisers are coming - watch this blog or my Facebook page for upcoming chances to contribute!