Tales of a fundraiser.

It's been a while since I've written.
My bad.
But... fear not... I have stories! I hope you find them as interesting/inspiring as I have.

Story 1
I work for a World Vision campaign right now. It's pretty nifty. Occasional, we meet some very interesting people. Occasionally, we meet some very inspiring people.
One lady stopped by our booth, she began to tell us her and her fiance had just sponsored one child, but they wanted another one. From colombia, from a specific city and a specific part of the city. Upon further investigation of the specific request, she told us her story. She was from Colombia, and was affected by the civil war. She prayed for her 4 children and herself every day, just for a meal. God was always faithful she said. Someone would always coming knocking on her door with food or money some way or another. Very cool. Then, World Vision came into her community, they got her connected into some work, got her family drinking clean water and eating plenty of 'good' food. Her children got their photos taken, and their profiles sent off to find some sponsors. When they got sponsored, she told us the joy it brought them when she got to take them to the World Vision office to get school supplies for the first time. And how much of a blessing it was to her and her family.

Suddenly every story of every child at our booth became so so so so much more real to me. I cried. I was blessed to hear this woman's story. She now is attending the U of R, her and her family were able to get out of their war torn home and find safety and a new life in Canada.

Her and her fiance signed up for 2 kids at our booth that day. Knowing they already had one, thats 3 kids. "It's only a 100 dollars a month" The fiance said. Both were university students. But they understood the difference they were making in those 3 kids lives in a much much much deeper way than we ever will.

Wow.


Story 2.
A guy came to our booth, mentioning that he was from South Africa and sponsoring a kid from South Africa, and he was enjoying it. I mentioned we had a few kids from South Africa if he wanted to see them. I picked up the only girl we had out and handed it to him. He held her and stared down sort of wide eyed. "That is my last name" He said. He pulled out his driver license and showed me. Sure enough the names matched. Meant to be? I thought so.

Story 3.
I was chatting with an middle aged man, maybe around 50. He was on his own, he just had some questions as to how the program worked, and some clarifications about where the money went. Once that was all discussed I mentioned the possibility of taking the opportunity to visit them someday. His eyes welled up. He was so excited, and so moved by these kids. It took a lot for me not to cry with him. It is amazing to talk with people who have such big hearts. I love it.


The end.

on a related and unrelated note.

today was neat.

you know how I am stoked to have a job where people are passionate and excited about the same things? and the fact that there is soooo much purpose in what we're doing? well today was neat because I also get to share my faith with one of the ladies I work with. We were having a slow day. she came up to me (picture a super passionate lady from singapore) and says this... out of the blue. 'you are christian?' me 'yes' 'like really christian?' 'yes' 'ok, let's pray'. And she grabbed my hand and started praying. right there. in the middle of the mall. she prayed nearly the EXACT same thing as I did on my way to work in my car just hours before, down to specific numbers. THEN within half an hour, i got the first 2 sponsors of the day. and a LOT of great promising conversations from then on. amazing? i think so. God? Absolutely.
Anyway, I loved that we got to pray together. And I love that God answers prayers.

in a completely unrelated note...
I am transferring all my pictures over to a new computer. that's when i realized i have over 50 000 photos.
what do you do with that many photos?
I want to go through them all... but... it's such a daunting task! Any suggestions?

on another note.
today.... i got a library card. i am excited. yet not. i love to own books. to lend books. to write in books. to see books go from new to wrinkled. to crack the spines. all of those joys i will not experience via the library. YET... i love the smell of old books. i love to make up stories as to where the books have been and whose read them and what those funny stains on the pages are from. and... sometimes i like to not spend money. and... old books look way cooler sometimes.
what do you think? old or new?

so, you're probably wondering what I am doing with myself since I quite my job right? I knew you were. so I will tell you.

I am working as a fundraiser for World Vision.

So what does that mean? Well, it means the I get to learn all about what World vision is and what they do. Primarily, the sponsorship program. We will have 2 booths set up in 2 malls. Just to tell people about the sponsorship program, and hope that as many people as possible sponsor the precious children. (check it out. www.worldvision.ca)

It is so so so so so good, and refreshing, to work with people who are there because they are passionate about what they do. It's not just a job. It's a way to make a difference. It is people coming together for a common purpose, because they love people, love children, and want to make a difference in the world. THIS is what I have been looking for in a job. THIS is confirmation I am going in the right direction. TO work out of my passions and desires and the things that tug on my heart... and THAT be my motivation! Not the fact that I have to do this job so i can make the money so that i can do the things I'm excited about.

So why am I getting paid? I wondered how they could do that myself, but we talked about that. The fact that they pay fundraisers all across Canada to do these campaigns actually does more, for more communities, by getting more sponsors than they would have simply by scraping the bottom of the bucket trying to pull together fundraiser willing to invest the time in such a campaign. The fact that people need to make money is no small fact. So, it's win win. And that is how it works.

I love doing things I am passionate about.
I love it.
I love it.
I love it.