32 days and counting

I have a count down feature on my laptop so every time I log on it flashes how many days until we leave. As I am typing this,  the window is flashing 1 month, 1 day and 21 hours!! 32 days and we leave for Ethiopia.

Last weekend we held a car wash in north Spokane at the Wandermere Car Wash Plaza. Big thanks to the owner and staff of both Wandermere and Nevada plazas for allowing us to use their facilities to wash cars. We will be washing cars one more time, this Saturday, September 15th from 9-12. The following day, Sunday, September 16th, we will be hosting a baked potato bar dinner at the church from 4:30-5:45pm. We will be providing potatoes and toppings and dessert with the help of the KaPOW team and the college-age group.  Please join us for dinner. Donations will be accepted at the door.

Last weekend some of us also worked for the Spokane Symphony at their Labor Day free concert at Comstock Park. This year, the city required outdoor events to supply and manage recycle bins; another way to be greener. Thank you to Annie Matlow for suggesting and offering the Ethiopia team an opportunity to manage, collect and cash in any collected cans and bottles. Well, we enjoyed the free concert and the weather was pleasing, but the collection of cans and bottles did not generate any funds. I guess I can say how pleased I am that Spokanites clean up after themselves so well. It was amazing to see the high-end tailgating at this event. People not only brought their chairs and blankets but also the table, the table cloth with candles, vases of flowers, wine glasses and high-end park food. This was the first year recycling was offered at this event. Perhaps next year will be a better chance for another group.

Speaking of funds, we are so close. As we started this adventure, our goal was for each member to raise $3000. There are nine of us going and we are just over $22,000. Only $5000 more to go in 32 short days. The remainder of the funds raised will go towards projects in Addis Ababa. Some projects we are hoping to do include VBS activities, buying and setting up a playground jungle-gym for an orphanage, providing educational scholarships for some children and painting. We are there to serve and will work where ever we are needed. If you still want to help, you can donate directly through the church's website at nabcspokane.org. Find the giving tab on the left of the home page and follow the on-screen instructions. Next, you can specifically comment in the note section, that your donation is for the Ethiopia mission team.

Thank you for following us and keeping in touch. More to come as we get closer to our departure date.

Stay tuned,
Sherridan