Under One Sky Benefit
Wow! This past summer has gone by so fast! From the trip and then coming back and getting ready for the benefit to now here we are in September. We can not believe the benefit is already over. (And I can't believe I am just getting to this blog post!!!) It was such a great night! We have so many people to thank and the first is God. We are continually reminded that He has led us on this journey and has given us each step along the way. At the benefit I talked about the moment in 2010 when I was so unsure of what I was doing and was in a classroom in George Compound listening to these women sing a song that was about a verse in the Old Testament. A verse that was given to me on a rock before I left; a verse I was claiming for myself and for Extending Hands. The rock with the verse was in my pocket that day in the compound when the women were singing the song about 1 Samuel 7:12. It states that "...thus far has the Lord helped us." They needed that verse and so did I. At that moment, God said to my heart, "I have brought you this far, trust me." And so I did, and so we do.
We are so excited about where we are going with International Teams and thrilled to be looking down the road to moving to Zambia full time in 2015! It was great to have some key I-Teams people at our benefit to talk with and speak to our supporters about why these two organizations are combining forces to go and come alongside the oppressed in Zambia. Scott Olson did great not only speaking but playing a little sax with one of the bands. He, along with Ron Bryant (and wives!), put a real face to the organization and allowed people to hear their heart for the oppressed around the world.
The night was such a success due to all our committee members who put in hours and hours of work, money and energy months before hand and the days leading up to and after the event! Rich and Dinah Schisler, Steve Jacobs, Carrie Zamorano, Lisa Kelly, Dana Rasho, Bill and Heather Yoder, Sandy and Phil Woznicki, thank you guys so much! Then to those who helped with stuff as we got closer and the days before and the night of-Mark Filippi, Dan Sorensen, Jeremiah Sorensen, Kyle Stroner, Tom Stroner, Mark Rodgers, Marge and Rich Hamberg, Joyce and John Murphy, Laurie Friedel, Kate Nitsch, The Nulle-Hoxie Family (great desserts!), and I know I need to also mention my kids, Bri, Kate and Carter and Thomas S., Wyatt Y., Emily T., and Dana Rasho's girls for helping as well:) Then there is a HUGE thank you to Tom and Linda Hansen for the farm, the donation of the tables and chairs and all the help leading up to and after the benefit! Then to the Fruins for donating the yummy pig and for getting the piggy to market! This was a big deal as getting the pig in the back of my van could have been ugly! Thanks guys! Gary Johnson did a great job on the pork and beef and the straw bales were loaned by Tom's neighbor down the road. Then to the bands! Wow, if you were there, you know the talent that night was unbelievable! They all rocked! A BIG thank you to Mandy Z and Rural Route One, The Mark Rodgers Band, Ashley Cleveland, and The Blue Shield Band.
I hope I am not forgetting anyone! The weather was perfect and the setting was great! Had a chance to share our heart and what has gone on over the past year and where we are headed. We are excited about how God is going to continue to support the work of Extending Hands and also for those that will step into a more long term role as monthly supporters of us when we go full time to Zambia. We praise God in advance for all that He is going to do!
I need to say a heartfelt thank you to our board, Sarah Parker and Sandy Woznicki, and my hubby Ben for sitting in meetings and talking about all the tough issues, the nitty-gritty stuff, the planning, the paperwork, the difficult decisions and of course dealing with me! God has so gifted me with you guys and I am grateful for all your thoughts, opinions, ideas and help. It is an honor to have such godly people who want to be a part of God's work in Zambia sitting at one table.
Well, I think that about does it. The pictures we have of the night do not do it justice as it was truly a night to remember with the sunset, the stillness of the air, the subtle candle light and the music. But if you missed the event, here are a few. For more check out our FB page! www.facebook.com/extendinghands
We are so excited about where we are going with International Teams and thrilled to be looking down the road to moving to Zambia full time in 2015! It was great to have some key I-Teams people at our benefit to talk with and speak to our supporters about why these two organizations are combining forces to go and come alongside the oppressed in Zambia. Scott Olson did great not only speaking but playing a little sax with one of the bands. He, along with Ron Bryant (and wives!), put a real face to the organization and allowed people to hear their heart for the oppressed around the world.
The night was such a success due to all our committee members who put in hours and hours of work, money and energy months before hand and the days leading up to and after the event! Rich and Dinah Schisler, Steve Jacobs, Carrie Zamorano, Lisa Kelly, Dana Rasho, Bill and Heather Yoder, Sandy and Phil Woznicki, thank you guys so much! Then to those who helped with stuff as we got closer and the days before and the night of-Mark Filippi, Dan Sorensen, Jeremiah Sorensen, Kyle Stroner, Tom Stroner, Mark Rodgers, Marge and Rich Hamberg, Joyce and John Murphy, Laurie Friedel, Kate Nitsch, The Nulle-Hoxie Family (great desserts!), and I know I need to also mention my kids, Bri, Kate and Carter and Thomas S., Wyatt Y., Emily T., and Dana Rasho's girls for helping as well:) Then there is a HUGE thank you to Tom and Linda Hansen for the farm, the donation of the tables and chairs and all the help leading up to and after the benefit! Then to the Fruins for donating the yummy pig and for getting the piggy to market! This was a big deal as getting the pig in the back of my van could have been ugly! Thanks guys! Gary Johnson did a great job on the pork and beef and the straw bales were loaned by Tom's neighbor down the road. Then to the bands! Wow, if you were there, you know the talent that night was unbelievable! They all rocked! A BIG thank you to Mandy Z and Rural Route One, The Mark Rodgers Band, Ashley Cleveland, and The Blue Shield Band.
I hope I am not forgetting anyone! The weather was perfect and the setting was great! Had a chance to share our heart and what has gone on over the past year and where we are headed. We are excited about how God is going to continue to support the work of Extending Hands and also for those that will step into a more long term role as monthly supporters of us when we go full time to Zambia. We praise God in advance for all that He is going to do!
I need to say a heartfelt thank you to our board, Sarah Parker and Sandy Woznicki, and my hubby Ben for sitting in meetings and talking about all the tough issues, the nitty-gritty stuff, the planning, the paperwork, the difficult decisions and of course dealing with me! God has so gifted me with you guys and I am grateful for all your thoughts, opinions, ideas and help. It is an honor to have such godly people who want to be a part of God's work in Zambia sitting at one table.
Well, I think that about does it. The pictures we have of the night do not do it justice as it was truly a night to remember with the sunset, the stillness of the air, the subtle candle light and the music. But if you missed the event, here are a few. For more check out our FB page! www.facebook.com/extendinghands
