WE DID IT!

I am just too excited for fancy words and cute pictures.  I just had to get on the horn right away and let everyone know:

WE DID IT!

We raised over $4000 to build a house for Jennifer Rose and her family!!

I can't believe this is really happening!  Just a few weeks ago our goal still seemed so far away and September 30th seemed to be right around the corner.  Our sale went great and people have been sending in donations.  We had a very generous donor (who wishes to remain anonymous but is so much appreciated) give a large donation yesterday that put us over the top.  

Our plan all along has been to trust God and take the next step He provided.  We worked hard and we never worried.  He gave us work when we needed it, donations when we needed it, encouragement and motivation when we needed it.  We trusted.  He provided.  

I've just sent word to Gretchen DeVoe, the missionary we are working with, to tell the family the good news. The Volmar family has been homeless for three years.  God has not forgotten them and neither have we.  Start building a house.

The process is still ongoing and there will be more updates to come, so please don't forget to check back.  One of the most exciting things is that, although we have met our goal, we are still in the process of raising money with Thred Up.  We still have bags of clothes to be sent, processed and paid, so we are going to continue to work with them.  This money will be ABOVE AND BEYOND our initial commitment but will be used in one of the following ways: 

   1.  to donate to the Homes for Haiti ministry to defray the cost of building           the house, which now costs more than $4000 to build, even though                 Lifeline has chosen to honor the $4000 quote that we set out with.  

   2.  to give to the family directly (part or whole) in a cash donation.

   3.  to buy things for the family or the house, such as bags of rice and beans        or a table or bed for the house.  

That being said, if you had planned to donate and did not get a chance, please feel free to send it in.  We are still accepting donations.  We can use your money for one of the above stated purposes or possibly another purpose of your choosing.  Want to send someone you love to Haiti to help build the house?  We can use donations in that way as well, if you so choose.  

If you still  have a bag to send to Thred Up or a cashout balance to send over, don't forget.  Here is the link to Thred Up:

Thred Up Group Link

And if this story inspires you and you want to stay involved with Lifeline Christian Mission and/or the Homes for Haiti ministry, visit their website for more information.  Prayer and financial support are always needed.  You can look into supporting the ministry, taking a mission trip with your family or group of friends, select a child to sponsor or build a house for family in need.  The love need not stop here, people!  

Lifeline Christian Mission

Thank you thank you thank you!  Can you tell I'm excited?!?!  OK, this might be the most rambling and disordered post ever, but I am just too excited to labor over this one.  I just had to share the good news.  

Thanks and love to all!

   

The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful

The Good:  The yard sale was a success!  We raised over $300 dollars to put toward our goal and had so much fun doing it.  We now have over $2500 toward our goal!  This really put some wind in our sails and inspired us to keep on keepin on.  

Dubious Man Job

Jamie, Melissa and I had a wonderful day at the sale and even got a little sun for our efforts.  Lance was in and out, helping with 'man jobs' at the sale and putting in some serious elbow grease next door, helping the next door neighbors with recovery from a house fire.  The five little boys we have between us played wonderfully all day and our awesome babysitter Caty made it all look easy.  The three amigos (Greyson 2, Joachim 2, and Lucas, almost 2) were thick as thieves all day and didn't cause nearly as much trouble as they could have.  :)

The Three Amigos

Our day went so well much due to the preparation efforts of many.  Thank you to all who donated items for the sale and sent in monetary donations.  And thank you to Stephani and Brianna who came on Friday to help sort, tag and organize before the sale.  

So, good sale.  Good day.  Good memories.

The Bad:  We received notice from Lifeline Christian Mission that their Homes for Haiti program is increasing their prices for homes:

Price change for "Homes for Haiti"

Lifeline's "Homes for Haiti" Ministry allows you the opportunity to purchase a home for your sponsored child and/or a needy Haitian family. Your gift provides a family with a durable, lasting home that will provide safety and security for many years to come.  Effective October 1, 2013, all homes will now cost $4475, when paying by check.  All homes paid in full by September 30 will still be $4000, when paid by check. For more information about the homes ministry and how you can impact a family, visit www.Lifeline.org/HomesForHaiti.

This is still a tiny fraction of what it would cost to build a home here in the United States, of course.  And these homes built by the Homes for Haiti ministry are the nicest in the village - all of them remained intact and liveable during the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed so many and left so many more, like Jennifer Rose and her family, homeless.  I certainly do not have any misgivings about the price or the increase, but boy would it be great to pull this off over the next few weeks and save $475 dollars!  This also has served to motivate us and get our minds churning as to how to make this happen.  Ideas anyone?  Large donations will not be turned away:)

The Beautiful:  Of the many neighbors we enjoyed talking with throughout the day, we were most moved by Richard.  He lives next door and his family just experienced a house fire.  Thankfully no one was injured, but they are just starting to put their home back together and make it liveable.  We gave him some furniture from our sale that the family needed and insisted it was a gift when he offered to pay.  He said he knew about our project and wanted to be a part of it.  He made a $50 donation to AHFJR for the furniture we tried to gift him.  I was moved to tears.  Here is a family of limited means facing an expensive crisis inside their own home and they give.  When people give out of their abundance it makes a difference.  When people give, in the middle of their need, it touches the heart.  Talk about blown away.  

If that doesn't pull the heartstrings then this will.  My friend's sweet son, Judah, has seen his mommy doing these yard sales and heard her talking about building a house for Jennifer Rose.  He asked his mother about it. She explained, in age appropriate language of course, that there was a little girl that didn't have a house and she didn't have the money to get one.  So we wanted to help her get a house.  He immediately offered all of the money from his piggy bank for the project.  He is four.  

So, that's the latest folks.  The good, the bad and the beautiful.  Upcoming projects may include but are not limited to: selling handmade bracelets from Haitian craftsmen and women as a fundraiser, having a "Buy a Brick' fundraising party, continuing to work with Thred Up to get a match on funds raised with them so far (see our page for details http://thred.me/XdUPHC  ) and of course a pressing and grateful reminder that donations are welcome and timely participation appreciated as our September 30th goal date approaches.  You will be hearing from me soon and I thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, for supporting and for encouraging.  This is a wild ride and an amazing experience that I am blessed to be a part of.  

the sale

fun

more fun

We're Baaaaack

You haven't heard from us in a while, dear reader (notice the singular), but I am here to say that yes, we are still raising money, yes we are still planning and preparing, yes, we are still chugging away on this goal of building a house for Jennifer Rose and her family.

Summer got quite busy around here for us, as I am sure it did for you as well.  We had a move, a disastrous family vacation and two new babies in the family to greet.  There was a lot of travel, a lot of disorganization as we clumsily settle into our new home and a lot of last minute shuffling of school plans for the kids.  



And that's just my family.  The team of girls all had their own summer busyness with a lot of similar themes:) While we were always accepting donations, some of our active fundraising was put on hold until we could make a plan and, quite frankly, come up with some ideas.  

You won't believe what we have come up with this time.  Wait for it.  

ANOTHER YARD SALE!!!!!!!!

Ok, we are committed, passionate, hardworking and determined.  We are full of faith that God will lead the way if we just agree to follow.  But creativity has never been my strong suit people.  I never claimed it was. 

our cutest customer

 And why would you  mess with success?  We have raised over a thousand dollars with our two yard sales!  Another $1100 in donations came in over the summer.  That puts us at over $2000, over halfway there.  We are hoping to raise another $1000 with Thred Up - jump on it if you haven't already.  So we have just a quarter of the way to go and some of us are just itching for an excuse for a good yard sale.  Is there anything more satisfying than getting rid of junk and making money at the same time?  You betcha there is.  At our yard sales we enjoy meeting some very colorful folk, as well as some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet, and the money goes to a great cause.  Beat that!



So details details, you beg.  Here you are my readership:

Saturday September 7th 8:00 am until 2:00 pm 
at 1038 Chicagmauga Ave (East) Nashville 37206

Be there or be square.

If you have any items to donate (or cold hard cash - time to up my hard press) call me or email me or facebook me or whatever your pleasure.  I will come to you.  I want your junk, I mean stuff.  I would LOVE to swing by your house and pick up clothing or really any household items that your would like removed from your life with a big side dish of feel good.  In Middle TN lets say.  I do have these two kids and can't pick up your stuff in Indiana.  

Previous yard sale. 

Looking forward to hearing from you (still singular. I'm a realist) and seeing you this Saturday.  Leave a comment -  I would love to have evidence that someone lurked.  Like I said, get a hold of me if you want to help or come by and shop if that is your speed.  I truly appreciate your interest.  

Jennifer Heinrich

773.844.8428

jenniferjheinrich@gmail.com