waitress by day, fundraiser extraordinaire by night... many people have asked me what exactly it is that i do when i say that i am "fundraising". good question. at the lunchhour, you can find me working at Houlihan's Restaurant in Fairway, KS so that i can continue to pay for life and all that comes with it. but when the black and hyper-color green uni comes off (ah, sweet humility), it's time to kick germany into full gear. i am fundraising relationally; which means that i call people i know and spread the word far and wide by mouth. i don't cold call people and i have yet to approach any organizations (although that is not unheard of). so far, i just send letters to people in all kinds of crazy circles of life and ask them to join me in this venture. i have loved it. what a beautiful way to cement this calling and really let God and people affirm it over and over again. it is so humbling and very appropriate to ask people to give of their resources and time to God through me. i could not have imagined a better way to prepare me to enter a life of ministry. if you saw me at Houli's with nothing else to do, i would be addressing letters and making calls. sometimes my co-black-and-green-workers even helped out. i have had fundraising desserts where my friends and loved ones invite their aquaintances to a fun evening of me just sharing my story and where i am going next and what the heck God is up to in germany. i have a committee of very amazing and talented people who are my backbone and major supporters, since i am not going with any local church. my commitee has had fundraisers, designed my brochures, printed them, made magnets, helped me figure out my plan and timeline, kept me on track with money, prayed with me, encouraged me and walked intimately alongside me through this whole thing. they are the life of this operation. i am currently filling out church missions boards applications and meeting with pastors and missions committees. i sit down with people or talk with them over the phone, just sharing stories of how God has changed me and used me in this ministry. storytelling, that is fundraising, just as Christ told stories and we the church have been incorporating our story into God's big story for centuries. reminding us all that we are not alone, and that God uses all of us to do His work here on earth; bringing to light that still quiet voice that we can so easily tune out or run over. Sharing Christ's hope and love is so life-giving when all the world wants to do is isolate and destroy us. i am not alone. i have never felt so prayed for and affirmed and surounded by a great cloud of witnesses. this is right!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
a day in the life
waitress by day, fundraiser extraordinaire by night... many people have asked me what exactly it is that i do when i say that i am "fundraising". good question. at the lunchhour, you can find me working at Houlihan's Restaurant in Fairway, KS so that i can continue to pay for life and all that comes with it. but when the black and hyper-color green uni comes off (ah, sweet humility), it's time to kick germany into full gear. i am fundraising relationally; which means that i call people i know and spread the word far and wide by mouth. i don't cold call people and i have yet to approach any organizations (although that is not unheard of). so far, i just send letters to people in all kinds of crazy circles of life and ask them to join me in this venture. i have loved it. what a beautiful way to cement this calling and really let God and people affirm it over and over again. it is so humbling and very appropriate to ask people to give of their resources and time to God through me. i could not have imagined a better way to prepare me to enter a life of ministry. if you saw me at Houli's with nothing else to do, i would be addressing letters and making calls. sometimes my co-black-and-green-workers even helped out. i have had fundraising desserts where my friends and loved ones invite their aquaintances to a fun evening of me just sharing my story and where i am going next and what the heck God is up to in germany. i have a committee of very amazing and talented people who are my backbone and major supporters, since i am not going with any local church. my commitee has had fundraisers, designed my brochures, printed them, made magnets, helped me figure out my plan and timeline, kept me on track with money, prayed with me, encouraged me and walked intimately alongside me through this whole thing. they are the life of this operation. i am currently filling out church missions boards applications and meeting with pastors and missions committees. i sit down with people or talk with them over the phone, just sharing stories of how God has changed me and used me in this ministry. storytelling, that is fundraising, just as Christ told stories and we the church have been incorporating our story into God's big story for centuries. reminding us all that we are not alone, and that God uses all of us to do His work here on earth; bringing to light that still quiet voice that we can so easily tune out or run over. Sharing Christ's hope and love is so life-giving when all the world wants to do is isolate and destroy us. i am not alone. i have never felt so prayed for and affirmed and surounded by a great cloud of witnesses. this is right!
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keep up the good work, taryn. tom and i just got your letter today and are excited about the progress you're making and the plans god has for you. i just wanted to let you know, back in the day i sported the bow-tie for houlihan's. and i've vowed never to wait tables again.
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