Angi and I set out the Because Every Mother Matters business cards and brochures. As customers came and went we would quickly mention that all of the proceeds were going toward BEMM to support their work with pregnant woman in East Africa.
The message was well received. So many people asked questions about BEMM, which led to questions about our Linton First Christian Church Orphan and Adoption Ministry, which led to questions about our own adoptions. I talked continuously Friday and Saturday. I talked so much that I lost my voice.
The message was well received. So many people asked questions about BEMM, which led to questions about our Linton First Christian Church Orphan and Adoption Ministry, which led to questions about our own adoptions. I talked continuously Friday and Saturday. I talked so much that I lost my voice.
Early in the day on Friday, a woman named Lisa found our booth. I started in with my BEMM introduction, but she stopped me to say that she understood! Her brother is a doctor in Zimbabwe and she has friends from Indianapolis who recently brought home an adopted African son. Needless to say, we had a lot to talk about!
Lisa and her husband Sean were at the festival with their concession booth. They sell the most wonderful cinnamon rolls and beignets. Lisa and Sean have an interesting story of their own. Now they live in Kansas and travel Indiana festivals from July to October with their concessions. Their happiness is contagious.
Lisa and her husband Sean were at the festival with their concession booth. They sell the most wonderful cinnamon rolls and beignets. Lisa and Sean have an interesting story of their own. Now they live in Kansas and travel Indiana festivals from July to October with their concessions. Their happiness is contagious.
Folks from a few different churches approached us to find out more about our Orphan and Adoption Ministry. Two women from one church spoke with Angi for a long time. They took down her information and since the festival they have gotten in touch with her to schedule us to speak about Because Every Mother Matters to their congregation in November. Because they want to get involved too.
A pastor from another local church approached us Saturday morning with hot chocolate. He talked to us about adoption and the orphan crisis and then asked if he could pray with us. Adults and Children from their church swooped in on us and circled our booth. They prayed for our adoptions, for BEMM, and for orphans around the world.
A pastor from another local church approached us Saturday morning with hot chocolate. He talked to us about adoption and the orphan crisis and then asked if he could pray with us. Adults and Children from their church swooped in on us and circled our booth. They prayed for our adoptions, for BEMM, and for orphans around the world.
Me, Tim Cooper (hidden by my giant head), Angi Cooper, Debbie Sale and Layla Sale
Saturday, we got a surprise visit from Debbie Sale, another AWAA Ethiopia mother who lives in Indiana. She came home from Ethiopia with her daughter Layla last month.
As we talked to people, the business cards and brochures started disappearing. Our jewelry, headbands, everything from our booth started to thin out. By Saturday evening our booth was getting empty and our money box was getting full.
As we talked to people, the business cards and brochures started disappearing. Our jewelry, headbands, everything from our booth started to thin out. By Saturday evening our booth was getting empty and our money box was getting full.
Before the festival we'd been able to sell $124 in headbands, thanks to my husband's co-workers and my sister's salon. Thursday night I told Angi that if we could send Steffany a check for $500 I would feel like we'd been a success. But by Friday evening we'd already brought in more than $500!
So on the way over Saturday morning I prayed that we would be able to break $1000. And by late Saturday afternoon we had $1100. And then Lisa showed up...
She and Sean had talked and they decided to tithe 10% of their total concession sales for the whole weekend to Because Every Mother Matters.
At 10:30, in the dark as the park emptied and vendors loaded their things to go home, Lisa and Sean came down with a stack of bills. Their tithe put us over $1500. Three times what I had hoped for.
So on the way over Saturday morning I prayed that we would be able to break $1000. And by late Saturday afternoon we had $1100. And then Lisa showed up...
She and Sean had talked and they decided to tithe 10% of their total concession sales for the whole weekend to Because Every Mother Matters.
At 10:30, in the dark as the park emptied and vendors loaded their things to go home, Lisa and Sean came down with a stack of bills. Their tithe put us over $1500. Three times what I had hoped for.
Doing God's work... with a lot of butter and sugar.
In a tight little circle outside in the dark, the three of us and our husbands prayed. Angi could hardly get the words out. All I could think was Thank You God for letting me be a part of this.
When Angi finished praying, Lisa said, "So, where's church?"
Sunday morning they came to Linton First Christian Church with 8 dozen cinnamon rolls. We sat together and afterward we went out to lunch together. When I hugged Lisa goodbye I told her, "I couldn't have imagined Friday morning that this is what I'd be doing Sunday afternoon."
When Jeff Seevers wrote a post about Because Every Mother Matters in August he couldn't have imagined that it would lead to $1500 raised at a festival in Indiana in October. He could have just not bothered to write the post at all. I could have sent them $25 and left it at that. Lisa and Sean certainly could have kept their ten percent. But just like Steffany's story begins...
"You never know the impact that will be made when you choose to get involved in someone else's life. It may start off as a simple gesture. A smile. A friendly hello. In the midst of a tiring journey when all you want to do is veg out, tune out, you instead choose to reach out."
When Angi finished praying, Lisa said, "So, where's church?"
Sunday morning they came to Linton First Christian Church with 8 dozen cinnamon rolls. We sat together and afterward we went out to lunch together. When I hugged Lisa goodbye I told her, "I couldn't have imagined Friday morning that this is what I'd be doing Sunday afternoon."
When Jeff Seevers wrote a post about Because Every Mother Matters in August he couldn't have imagined that it would lead to $1500 raised at a festival in Indiana in October. He could have just not bothered to write the post at all. I could have sent them $25 and left it at that. Lisa and Sean certainly could have kept their ten percent. But just like Steffany's story begins...
"You never know the impact that will be made when you choose to get involved in someone else's life. It may start off as a simple gesture. A smile. A friendly hello. In the midst of a tiring journey when all you want to do is veg out, tune out, you instead choose to reach out."
If you would like to purchase any of the items seen in any of the photos, please leave a message! Some items remain and more can be made! BEMM headbands can be ordered directly here. Visit Angi and I at the Linton Fall Festival October 29th where we'll be raising funds for our orphan and adoption ministry and at the Linton Holiday Bazaar November 5th where we will be raising funds for our own adoptions.
And if you're at the Covered Bridge Festival in Montezuma this week say hi to Sean and Lisa at the Bakerman Stand! And seriously, try
a cinnamon roll!
And if you're at the Covered Bridge Festival in Montezuma this week say hi to Sean and Lisa at the Bakerman Stand! And seriously, try
a cinnamon roll!
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