Yard Sale Fundraiser

Twenty five cents here, two dollars there...by the end of the day we were tired, exhausted and just barely dry after our day of fundraising via yard sale. Living in Washington, you know that there is always a chance it will rain but when the forecast predicts it, you better know it's coming!

We planned accordingly and had some awesome family and neighbors that donated tables, HUGE awnings and chairs for our use during the sale! At least 15 families came together and donated their used items for us to sell to help us build up the funds! The sale was on Friday and Saturday and corresponded with the yearly community garage sale event that our neighborhood holds! SUCCESS. There was a steady stream of people ALL day long on BOTH days! As rainy as it was on Friday, that was our greatest turnout! And Saturday, blessing upon blessing poured in as we basked in the sunshine selling our wares and baked goods!

Not only did God open up the hearts of those that were led to give, but he brought the most amazing people to our sale! We had signs everywhere, letting people know that every single dollar was going towards our trip...and I loved the conversations those silly green signs started! We met countless others who had been on mission trips to Guatemala prior and were happy to share their experiences with us! Others came, just to shop but left with big ol smiles as they contemplated coming to our church the following Sunday. Some of our close friends stopped by to give us hugs, donate more stuff or even just give us a handful of cash to add to the pot! *sigh* It was unbelievable!

Now, I really wrestled with whether or not it was appropriate to share the total dollar amount raised on this site. I prayed about it, asked trusted friends and ran it by my lovely family. I still don't know the answer but, I want you to know that...with the money raised from this single two day event, we were able to pay for HALF our trip!!! Can you believe that?! I was in tears when the final total came through. Only God can take those handfuls of change, those wadded up dollar bills and those nickel & dime sales and turn it in to one...BIG...fat...amazing amount of money!

God never fails to amaze me! How we could start the day out with a bunch of old stuff, some baked goods and prayer and end up with such a huge, life changing blessing! How marvelous...

AHAT Project - Local Mission Work

Today is the morning that we are going to go to “Three Cedars” house to do our service project.

It is 6am and I am making coffee, eating my oatmeal and spending some time with the words of my Lord. I have been spending some time in the book of Revelation. Chapter 2 is my read on this morning. It just kind of hits me that I never want to be doing stuff in the name of our Lord just because it is what Christians do. I do this stuff because I Love God and am compelled to share this Love with others in my actions. It is an unfortunate thing that I am torn between “not telling anyone what I do” for fear that if I do, I will be bragging for my glory. To “telling and documenting” for the report to the church so that others may be interested in serving in the future.

I know why I serve. It is for the Love that over flows that I serve. My love for my Lord and because I love my Lord, I love my neighbor also.

My coffee cup is empty, my oatmeal bowl is in the sink and my bible is back next to my bed. I slip on my favorite hat and grab a shovel to go steal some plants from my neighbor’s yard for our service project today. He gave me permission, but at 7am on Saturday it sure felt like stealing when I was trying to be quiet as to not set off his 6 Pomeranian alarm system. No such luck, I am busted and greeted with a peek through the curtains and something yelled at the dogs with no success.

Later at “Three Cedars” we all gathered and meet Melody the facility director. She gave us some history of the AHAT organization and we were off and running. Everyone jumped in and started tearing weeds out of the ground and turning over the dirt. It just flowed organically. Weeding, moving plants, and planting new ones. I can’t really give a detailed run down of the day because it just happened with a lot of fun and goofing around. We all were talking, and doing, and laughing, and having a good time bonding.

Several times, patients of the house would come outside or to the window to talk with us. I had a warm feeling about how naturally we all shared in conversation with them. I just love learning someone’s history a sharing stories. I really think they got it. We cared about them.

Lindsay was definitely in her element and took a lot of initiative in helping with the design of the garden. Near noon Lindsay, Jack, and Allie went to Home Depot for more plants and flag stone. Upon their arriving back at the garden we all took a break for lunch at “Frisko Freeze”. We all sat around in the garden eating and talking. The bonding continued.

After lunch we all jumped right back in and started putting plants in the ground and adding the finishing touches to the garden. It was truly a God glorifying day.

Tired, happy, soar, and satisfied, we all gathered in the parking lot and Jack offered up a prayer. It was a good day, I felt the love of my Lord and I was happy to give it away.

-Barrett Hartman

Mission Auction

The Mission Auction was a success! We raised over $32,000 for both the Guatemala and the South Africa mission trips! As mentioned at the auction, the money raised will go towards building materials for houses and buildings the teams will complete while in their regions. It will also go towards medical, dental or school supplies for the communities we will be visiting. Any remainder will go to fill in some of the travel costs (capped at 25% per person) for those who have felt called to go. The generosity of those that gave, attended, purchased or donated...it just astounds me.

As each item was being auctioned off, it was a total adrenaline rush! Not just because the numbers were being raised and the mouth of the auctioneer just kept a runnin...but, it was amazing to think that people with such open and generous hearts were giving. Giving of their time and money both to purchase items and raise money but to donate these items.

What a wonderful night!

I wish I had pictures to share but we were all just working out little tails off and I didn't get any. Ouch. That kind of even hurt to admit out loud! ;)

Thank you to all of those that donated! And since I got to write this post AND knew some of the amazing people that donated...I want to make some special mentions! :)

Thank you to Peter Anderson of Galvin Flying for donating the Extended Intro Flight Lesson! He is SO supportive and I am so thankful for his loving kindness (and friendship) over the years!

Thank you to my Sis-In-Law for her TOTAL support! Not only did she purchase a whole table to attend but she donated three fabulous goody baskets to be auctioned off. AND she took 2/3rd of my children for a sleepover the night before the auction to allow me to help get things ready! What RockStars her and her husband are!!!

Thank you to my parents for taking the other third of my children, for attending the auction, donating some awesome goods. Also thanks for putting my kids to bed Mom, so I could stay at the auction longer. And thanks Dad for all the stuff you "won" for the kids and in support of the auction! Not to mention all the help you gave me for closing up at the end of the auction!

Thank you to my Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Jim for donating an Ocean Shores timeshare stay! And congrats to our friends that won it! Can I come?! ;) Also thank you for donating all the other misc goods and baskets that you donated! Your help is MUCH appreciated! So good to see you at the auction!

Thank you to Alyssa and Holly Sutherland for donating the kittens that my daughter would have given her entire family for! They got a good home! (the kittens...not the sisters!)

It was an awesome night and I can't wait to put all that hard work and support into action for the people in Guatemala!

It Begins...

In July 2010, we will be heading to Guatemala for 9 days of teaching, building, loving, giving, laughter, tears and serving. Through High Pointe Community Church and Orphan Outreach Program, we have put together a team of 13 people with a multitude of talents and an abundance of love. All of us aching to share the love of Christ, to serve as He served and to be a little light in some big, dark places.

We know that not everyone can go with us on this mission trip. But we want you to know that your physical presence is not the only way you can help. You can be a part of this mission in so many ways.

• Pray for us. Simple as that. Take our name before the Lord because the power of your words, your prayers, is unbeatable.
• Support our Missions Auction to help us raise money for the trip and supplies. You can attend the auction on May 8th at the Puyallup Fair Grounds and/or donate items to be auctioned off. Whatever your talent is (from plumbing to babysitting, car details to baked goods) someone will want it! And if you are looking for something fun, please attend and bid away!
• Donate supplies that have been requested by some of our contacts in country. The list of these supplies will be published in late May, early June...so please keep an eye out.
• Contact us if you have an idea of a way you feel more comfortable being a part of this mission. Leaving a comment, email us or contact our church office here.

Please join us on our journey as we share some amazing stories of God's work in the hearts of those around us. Please pray for us as we put this trip together, that all who want to be involved will be, that God will use us in ways we never imagined and that to Him goes all the glory.

Thank you.

Come As You Are

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10