Thursday, June 6, 2013

A Front Row Seat to See God Work!

My son and I are going to India this fall on a mission trip.  We need to raise our financial support.  We know we are being called to go, and we know our God is able to provide for all our needs. 

Shortly after announcing our plans to go, a couple of dear friends OFFERED to help us with our fundraising efforts.  The Curious Kids Consignment Sale was born!  I have long thought that the "consignment" model for children's clothing would work with well with homeschool curriculum too.


 

My dear friends - amazingly talented, dedicated and giving SUPER WOMEN,  helped take my tiny seed of an idea and turn it into a fundraising event.

We began planning about 10 weeks ago.  Curious Kids Consignment Sale was held last week.  We had 39 consignors, over $13,000 worth of merchandise.  We also had 12 wonderful Vendors to shop from (things like custom jewelry, family counseling, cosmetics, food and more!). 

God was with us every step of the way - even providing for the details like the teal tablecloths (to match the logo)  and donated  custom-decorated shopping bags for the customers. (check out Givebagz.com to get your own).  We each used the gifts we had been given... and the result was more than we could have imagined on our own.


 

The night before the sale opened, we held a "Girl's Night Out Preshop Event" as a way to reward our volunteers.  We had live music, appetizers and snacks, and door prizes.  Our children caught our excitement, and were a HUGE part of making the event a success! 

 
 
My daughter created "mug rugs" and bookmarks to sell.  Another dear friend, who dreams of going to India someday herself,  was our official donation station with her "Give your Change to Make a Change" message.  To see their hearts, and hands, so eager was a blessing for everyone near them!
 
Satan did his best attack our efforts (a sure sign something great is waiting for us in India!)  We actually had to spend the end of the evening in our church's hallway until the tornado warning was lifted.  Praise God - everyone was safe.  It certainly made for a memorable kick-off...


The two days of our sale could not have had worse weather - tornado warnings, flash flooding, torrential downpours.  BUT,  God is greater than all of this! 

Our tiny seed of an idea grew into a way to bless our community, and beyond.  We were able to match the supply with the demand for affordable homeschooling curriculum.  We made new friends.  We donated boxes of unsold curriculum to those devastated by the OK tornados (both for homeschoolers and schools in the area)  And, we raised above and beyond what we had hoped for the India Mission Team!


I love having a front row seat to watch what God is doing.  We took what we had, brought it to God, and he multiplied and blessed it.  Miracles are happening all around.  Please be encouraged to take that seed of an idea to God, and he will GROW it.

I'm already looking forward to next year!! 

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