We found out this week that the mission group we were traveling with has cancelled ALL mission trips for 2010. This means that our trip from Dec 4 -11, 2010 has been CANCELLED.
It was really tough to hear initially, considering all the time and effort we have put into our fundraising efforts as well as how excited I was to be going on my first mission trip with such a great friend. This happened on Thursday afternoon....
I had a headache and bible study was on this night. I SO didn't feel like going but SO glad I went, considering what I learned! The first verse we studied was James 1:2-4 (NIV) and BOY, did it bring so much perspective to how I was feeling. Read:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
or translated from the New Living Translation (which is much easier to understand and how I applied this to me)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
When I left our study meeting, I knew that this was one of these trials the bible speaks of! So, I' going to consider all we've done up to this point a pure joy for my journey to my first misison trip. I have gained so much experience with fundraising and witnessed people helping out when they don't even know me. All of this expience will be so useful for when I DO get to go on my first mission trip. And when I left, I had a pretty positive attitude about what has happened.
That said, Roland & Bernice are looking into other options to travel to Haiti. One of them would be going to work in an orphanage in Port au Prince. I would LOVE to work in an orphanage and love on a bunch of kiddies, but this option requires much physical work. If we do travel to an orphanage, Dianne will not be coming with us. And though I completely understand her reasons, I had my heart set on going WITH a close friend for my first mission trip. So that leaves me with mixed feelings about what I am going to do about travelling.
At this point, in terms of making a decision I feel like I am at a fork in my road. Obviously, it's not time for me to decide so I'm excited to see what the year brings. I am going to pray abou tit and I KNOW that God will lead me in the direction I am supposed to go. I trust this.
Trip or no trip, we have donations and money that we have collected and purchased. At this point, we have a few options to get them to New Missions and to Haiti. I will even pay for shipping to get the supplies there. But for now, I'm going to hold off on shipping items. I will continue to buy & collect supplies to ship and we will continue to make jewelry to sell and continue to send the money to New Missions for them to buy rice and help them rebuild.
So this is my latest 'planning' news...not excactly what I wanted to share at this point, but it's just the way it is. I'm going to trust that and go with the flow!!!
Trip
Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts
Apr 18, 2010
Apr 12, 2010
A few things to look out for
We've been busy making necklaces & bracelets, I've been busy trying to get a blog badge ready and I'm trying to get an ebay account set up so we can start selling our jewelry online.
One step at a time, is what I keep telling myself.
My goal of the week is to get my ebay seller's account set up and running to start selling online! If you have any suggestions with doing this, PLEASE send me your suggestions!
So that's what's been going on here....life couldn't be better!
Mar 4, 2010
9 months to go
I am so excited...9 months until we travel to Haiti and my dream becomes a reality!
There is SO much to do until then...starting with our earrings! We need to make more earrings to sell. Plus, now we have bracelets and just starting to get into necklaces - with the help of so many wonderful friends!!! We are finally caught up and there is a slow down in the sales - which sadly to say I am thankful for. Now that I am working until the end of the school year, it's proved to be 'quite the adjustment' for time management!!!
Now we're working on our original ideas we had for selling our earrings. I have contacted our Town Manager and he gave me many great ideas! Some of our ideas are setting up a booth/table at our local mall, farmer's market and radio station on a given day to sell the earrings. Some ideas I got from the Town Manager is to contact local business's (specifically Walmart) to set up a table to sell earrings there, or possibly door-to-door campaigning. WOW...he was ever so helpful. He even offered that if we had to get a 'pedlars license' to sell on the street, that he would 'waive the fee' because he believed in our cause!!!
BUT first thing is first, we have to have a BIG supply of them first - which is what we are working on right now. Thanks to all my 'working bees' while I'm at work - namely Dianne, Bernice and Julia (who is making us our necklace 'prototypes'!!!) I really couldn't do it without them!
Other projects we are working on are making sacs for the rice (for distribution) - sewing them and feeding the draw strings, a summer garage sale of donated items where ALL the proceeds go towards projects for our trip (but NOT any of our travel expenses), Noah's special project to sell and the collection of donated medical over the counter supplies.
In all of this, I need to get in to get all of my shots for traveling, etc.
So you see...I am convinced that 9 months is going to FLY by like a blink of an eye!
There is SO much to do until then...starting with our earrings! We need to make more earrings to sell. Plus, now we have bracelets and just starting to get into necklaces - with the help of so many wonderful friends!!! We are finally caught up and there is a slow down in the sales - which sadly to say I am thankful for. Now that I am working until the end of the school year, it's proved to be 'quite the adjustment' for time management!!!
Now we're working on our original ideas we had for selling our earrings. I have contacted our Town Manager and he gave me many great ideas! Some of our ideas are setting up a booth/table at our local mall, farmer's market and radio station on a given day to sell the earrings. Some ideas I got from the Town Manager is to contact local business's (specifically Walmart) to set up a table to sell earrings there, or possibly door-to-door campaigning. WOW...he was ever so helpful. He even offered that if we had to get a 'pedlars license' to sell on the street, that he would 'waive the fee' because he believed in our cause!!!
BUT first thing is first, we have to have a BIG supply of them first - which is what we are working on right now. Thanks to all my 'working bees' while I'm at work - namely Dianne, Bernice and Julia (who is making us our necklace 'prototypes'!!!) I really couldn't do it without them!
Other projects we are working on are making sacs for the rice (for distribution) - sewing them and feeding the draw strings, a summer garage sale of donated items where ALL the proceeds go towards projects for our trip (but NOT any of our travel expenses), Noah's special project to sell and the collection of donated medical over the counter supplies.
In all of this, I need to get in to get all of my shots for traveling, etc.
So you see...I am convinced that 9 months is going to FLY by like a blink of an eye!
Feb 25, 2010
Earring Supplies
Weeefffwuuuuu....I was getting worried that we were going to run out of supplies for making earrings. But I know for sure we won't now thanks to a few reasons.
Earring sales have slowed slightly which (for now), I am secretly happy about considering I am working pretty much full time for the next couple of months.
Running low on supplies (both beads & earring hooks and posts), but over 900 earring hook & posts came in the mail last week, tonnes of wooden beads came in the mail this week and I'm getting away for the weekend (alone with my honey) and get to go shopping at Michaels Craft Store to buy some more colourful beads!
I'm really excited about this because on Monday afternoon, a bunch of women (possibly up to 12 or 15) are getting together in the basement of our church to make earrings! I'm so happy that we're going to have lots of supplies for them to use!
PLUS, I'm excited that we'll have lots of earrings made next week. This will allow me to start reaching out to some of our local businesses!
Can't wait...but I really shouldn't stay long and chat cuz my honey isn't coming home today (stuck in Toronto cuz of bad weather in his flight path) so I have LOTS of stuff to get ready for our weekend away and alone.
Will get caught up next week over our March Break when I have some more time!
Earring sales have slowed slightly which (for now), I am secretly happy about considering I am working pretty much full time for the next couple of months.
Running low on supplies (both beads & earring hooks and posts), but over 900 earring hook & posts came in the mail last week, tonnes of wooden beads came in the mail this week and I'm getting away for the weekend (alone with my honey) and get to go shopping at Michaels Craft Store to buy some more colourful beads!
I'm really excited about this because on Monday afternoon, a bunch of women (possibly up to 12 or 15) are getting together in the basement of our church to make earrings! I'm so happy that we're going to have lots of supplies for them to use!
PLUS, I'm excited that we'll have lots of earrings made next week. This will allow me to start reaching out to some of our local businesses!
Can't wait...but I really shouldn't stay long and chat cuz my honey isn't coming home today (stuck in Toronto cuz of bad weather in his flight path) so I have LOTS of stuff to get ready for our weekend away and alone.
Will get caught up next week over our March Break when I have some more time!
Feb 20, 2010
Donated items (so far), Garage Sale planning
We started off by making a small list of items that we could bring (much of each) to donate, thinking that we'd collect ALL year and fill most of 2 hockey 50 lb duffle bags each.
Well, in all honesty I think we may be close to filling our bags already. With all of the clothes we had donated to begin with (filling , I think 2 X 50 lb bags) and all of the donated/purchased items we will probably have to consider paying for extra 50 lb bags at a price of $125 per bag. We are committed NOT to let this stop us...
Things I have collected or purchased SO far (just by cutting my grocery bill by $20 per week):
If you know of ways to collect any of these items, or see them on sale - can you be so kind and send me an email to let me know. It would be so appreciated!
Summer Garage Sale Planning: Sometime in the summer, we are going to be hosting a garage sale that ALL proceeds will go to our mission (but let me clarify that ALL of our travel expenses are NOT coming out of ANY donated money or proceeds) If you have any items you wish to donate for our garage sale, please contact me tara.morin473@gmail.com.
Well, in all honesty I think we may be close to filling our bags already. With all of the clothes we had donated to begin with (filling , I think 2 X 50 lb bags) and all of the donated/purchased items we will probably have to consider paying for extra 50 lb bags at a price of $125 per bag. We are committed NOT to let this stop us...
Things I have collected or purchased SO far (just by cutting my grocery bill by $20 per week):
- * tylenol (acetaminophen) - 2 pkgs of 500 per pkg (on sale for $9 each one week)
- PLUS - 4 pkgs of baby asprin - 250 per pkg on sale from $22.99 to $9.99 one week)
- * advil (ibuprofen)
- * motrin (ibuprofen)
- * benadryl (diphenhydramine)
- * multi vitamans for children - 8 pkgs of 250 per pkg (on sale for $5 each one week)
- * multi vitamans for adults - 4 pkgs of 250 per pkg (on sale for $9.99 each)
- * cough medications
- * cough syrups
- * peroxide - 10 bottles (4 donated, 6 purchased from the Dollar store for $1/each)
- * rubbing alcohol - 10 bottles (4 donated, 6 purchased from the Dollar store for $1/each) * cotton balls - 10 bags (purchased from the Dollar store for $1/each)
- * tooth brushes - 312 (all donated from our Dentist, Dr. Alain Cyr in Grand Falls)
- * tooth paste - 48 tubes (all donated from our Dentist, Dr. Alain Cyr in Grand Falls)
- * band aids - 10 boxes (3 donated, 7 purchased from the Dollar store for $1/each)
- * maxi pads - 25 pkgs (20 donated, 5 purchsed from the Dollar store for $1/each)
If you know of ways to collect any of these items, or see them on sale - can you be so kind and send me an email to let me know. It would be so appreciated!
Summer Garage Sale Planning: Sometime in the summer, we are going to be hosting a garage sale that ALL proceeds will go to our mission (but let me clarify that ALL of our travel expenses are NOT coming out of ANY donated money or proceeds) If you have any items you wish to donate for our garage sale, please contact me tara.morin473@gmail.com.
Busy, busy, busy...
The same thing I wrote I my family blog, I'll write here too.
Life has been really busy and I'm not liking it too much. There is SO much I want to do for our trip to Haiti and there doesn't seem to be enough time right now. I started working at the school in the Kindergarten class (30 hours a week) from Feb - June. Though I love the kids (most of the days), I am SO tired out at the end of the day that I feel like doing nothing :(
I'm thankful it's only until June because I couldn't handle much more of this. Luckily, once June rolls around I'll be able to focus more of my energies on projects for Haiti.
Noah is getting really involved and he's excited to be starting his own project to raise money for our trip (whether it's for medical supplies or to bring an extra bag of donatables or for food). He's really excited for this project, I hope he keeps his momentum on it. If not, I'll take it over. Not going to share what he project IS yet, until we have a bunch made but just know that I am SUPER proud of my boy for the commitment and compassion he has for underprivlidged people of the world!
March Break is coming up here in New Brunswick, Canada and we're getting ready to have some jewelry making fun in the basement of our church. Between 12-15 women (bless them) are going to get together for 3-4 hrs one afternoon to help me make earrings. If the plans come together, we'll be having a little supper after as well too! I LOVE my church family and am so appreciative of their supportive on this project (among many other things)! I'm hoping to have close to 500 pairs done and ready to ship by the end of March Break (along with some much needed R&R&R - that's rest, relaxation & reading)!!
Our earring project seems to have calmed down a little, so now we can reach out to all the people we intended to reach out to in the first place. I even have a MLA (or shall I say he's in the running) that is a salesmen by profession that is on board in helping me sell the earrings. He suggested I wait to give them to him until I have caught up - leaving me with the impression that he may be selling LOTS for us!!!
Got Pay Pal up and running (finally) after almost a month of it being DOWN. It took too many conversations (6 conversations on phone with reps, telling them the SAME thing) and WAY too many emails (6 emails requesting info that I didn't have, 6 responses telling them that I didn't have the info they requested and the same response I gave them on the phone). NOW, I'm a little 'gun shy' to set up a "PAY" button with pay pal in fear of being locked out of my account like this again. I'll be looking into it today to see what I can do for ease of paying through pay pal! Keep posted on what happens.
That's where we are today....keep spreading the word about earrings and now bracelets for sale! To date we raised (or have shipped and waiting for sale money to be sent back) over $2000 by sale of earrings & bracelets!!!
Life has been really busy and I'm not liking it too much. There is SO much I want to do for our trip to Haiti and there doesn't seem to be enough time right now. I started working at the school in the Kindergarten class (30 hours a week) from Feb - June. Though I love the kids (most of the days), I am SO tired out at the end of the day that I feel like doing nothing :(
I'm thankful it's only until June because I couldn't handle much more of this. Luckily, once June rolls around I'll be able to focus more of my energies on projects for Haiti.
Noah is getting really involved and he's excited to be starting his own project to raise money for our trip (whether it's for medical supplies or to bring an extra bag of donatables or for food). He's really excited for this project, I hope he keeps his momentum on it. If not, I'll take it over. Not going to share what he project IS yet, until we have a bunch made but just know that I am SUPER proud of my boy for the commitment and compassion he has for underprivlidged people of the world!
March Break is coming up here in New Brunswick, Canada and we're getting ready to have some jewelry making fun in the basement of our church. Between 12-15 women (bless them) are going to get together for 3-4 hrs one afternoon to help me make earrings. If the plans come together, we'll be having a little supper after as well too! I LOVE my church family and am so appreciative of their supportive on this project (among many other things)! I'm hoping to have close to 500 pairs done and ready to ship by the end of March Break (along with some much needed R&R&R - that's rest, relaxation & reading)!!
Our earring project seems to have calmed down a little, so now we can reach out to all the people we intended to reach out to in the first place. I even have a MLA (or shall I say he's in the running) that is a salesmen by profession that is on board in helping me sell the earrings. He suggested I wait to give them to him until I have caught up - leaving me with the impression that he may be selling LOTS for us!!!
Got Pay Pal up and running (finally) after almost a month of it being DOWN. It took too many conversations (6 conversations on phone with reps, telling them the SAME thing) and WAY too many emails (6 emails requesting info that I didn't have, 6 responses telling them that I didn't have the info they requested and the same response I gave them on the phone). NOW, I'm a little 'gun shy' to set up a "PAY" button with pay pal in fear of being locked out of my account like this again. I'll be looking into it today to see what I can do for ease of paying through pay pal! Keep posted on what happens.
That's where we are today....keep spreading the word about earrings and now bracelets for sale! To date we raised (or have shipped and waiting for sale money to be sent back) over $2000 by sale of earrings & bracelets!!!
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