Oh my y'all. I've spent the last four days completely and totally focused on my support letters. Even though I haven't technically been accepted to AIM yet, I am fairly certain that I will be, so I'm just gonna go ahead and raise support. I've decided to do several different things to work toward this goal.
For one, I decided that I'm gonna have a yard sale. I sent an email out to people that go to my church asking for donations, and my garage is already full! It really makes me so happy. I know that more people are planning to donate some stuff, too. God is bringing things together so well. I just am loving this whole experience right now.
Then, I decided that I'm gonna have a car wash, and ask the youth group to help me. The band has done this for a lot of years, and we always make quite a bit of money, so I'm hoping it will work out well. You know, a "free" yard sales where you ask for donations. I think it'd be really awesome to do that, and so I'm gonna try and see if I can raise some money that way.
Another thing I'm going is trying to find odd jobs to do. Someone asked me the other day if I was working this summer. I told them no, because I don't have an actual "job." But I did tell them that I plan on doing any kind of work that anyone will let me do. Yard work, cleaning out their attic, babysitting. Whatever it is, I'm willing to do it. I need money, and if someone is kind enough to offer me an opportunity to make some money, then I'm totally gonna take it.
Anyway, the support letter process has been tedious. It was a long process with several steps. First I had to write the actual letter. Then, I had to gather up all the addresses that I wanted to use (this was fairly easy because our church has a directory, and I also just sent out graduation invitations, so I had all my familie's addresses in one place). Then I addressed all the envelopes, all 150 of them. It bout killed my wrist. Then, I made tons and tons of copies. Potter was nice enough to let me use their copy machine and paper, which saved me tons of money. Then, I signed all the letters and put them all into their envelopes. This morning I went to the post office and dropped $115 on stamps. Who knew stamps were so stinking expensve?! I sure didn't. But, at least my mom was willing to pay for them and I didn't have to. Now they're all finished and I couldn't be more relieved,
It's not like the work is over, though. In fact, the work is still beginning. I'm gonna have to make calls, and then organize the yard sale, and the car wash. I'm really grateful for a couple things, though. I'm grateful to my mother for putting off everything that she had on her to-do list to help me do all of this. She's the most wonderful, supporting mother. God really knew what he was doing when He made her my mother, and that's something that I'll thank Him for every day for as long as I live.
I'm also really grateful for the wonderful, supporting church family that is really backing me up on all of this. I didn't really know what a lot of them would think about all of this, but it's something that has been a pleasant surprise. I know for sure that I don't deserve them, and all the love they've given me. But I'll always love Alvaton and hold them dearly in my heart.
Anyway, I have to finish packing for church camp, which I know is going to be an experience. Last year it wasn't so awesome, but I'm trying to keep an open mind with this, so we'll all just wait and pray that it goes well. Goodnight and good luck. ;)
