So Much Generosity!

Hi everyone! It's hard to believe that the benefit is only 3 days away! Since I'd been rather dry on great ideas on how to fundraise for this (other than asking online & in letters - and sending y'all free poems & such! ;) ), I am reeeaally grateful for those of you who came up with some great ideas. Namely - Kevin Carr, Greg Hall & Dan Noethe's idea for this benefit...all the amazing people who are performing...and I think I mentioned Nate McKay & The Beat donated the Beat Coffee Writers' February reading ticket sales to this too!

As if this were not enough, my mom's high school friend's daughter, Jenelle Joas - who I'm not super close with but was a friend of mine growing up - wrote to say she'd like to donate 50 headbands from her business - Urban Halo - to be sold at the benefit. They usually retail for $15 (in 40 states), but at the show you can get one for $5! (Unless you want to give me more; I'll never turn it down! :) ) Furthermore, Allison Scally of Corner Church suggested they bring by a number of crafts on Sunday also - handmade jewelry, scarves, etc. that they happen to have and would like to put to good use! Wow. (And I just met her/them about a month ago.) Not to mention the generous checks from y'all which have been showing up in my mailbox. THANK YOU. It does really put a particular weight on a trip like this when so many folks' goodness has been a part of making it happen. Like, hello Eastern Europe. God DOES love you. And a couple hundred Minnesotans/Californians and folks from other states have come together to let you know.

Team Photo - L to R: me, Brandyn, Roy, Elissa, Rashun, Lilian, Hal

Below - David & Janka Chlebus of Lifenet, the little church we are going there to help out. They're new and small, and we're hoping to be a bridge to introduce more folks in the college community to them while we're there. And to serve in whatever ways they need.

Thanks for reading all this, everyone! More updates to come.

Love,
Christy

PS - Current funds are at $1770. Need to raise $2300-$2500 (exact # still to come) - my $2000 deadline is May 6th. New paypal donation button is on the right of this page!

PPS - To give anonymously, give at the Oak Hills Church website, just make sure to note that in the comments and that it's anonymously for 'Christy Merry/Czech Trip'