Kick it.

(New auction below – check it out! Yeah, that’s where I got the title for my post – I know, I’m ridiculous.)

I just got back from another La Tienda party, hosted by my darling mom in Cookstown (about an hour from here) – and this party raised over $875!!!! How exciting! I know Rachel and the ladies of La Tienda will be SO blessed!

They showed a video at this party and I knew right away that I wanted to show it to my blog readers. So many of you have already helped in various ways with La Tienda – either by donating an auction item or donating beads and medical supplies for our trip down there in June (only a few more weeks!!!) or by purchasing the La Tienda jewelry! You guys have all been absolutely amazing. 

I feel so honoured to be chosen to go to the D.R. next month and document this ministry in photographs. The whole trip weighs heavy on my heart though … I know I will come home and want to return with MY family and just give it all up here and become a full time volunteer/missionary!… that calling, that desire to be a part of the missions world, is very close to my heart. 

I am REALLY hoping that I will find an internet location in the D.R. so I can keep up my blogging while Tamara and I are there … and another photographer suggested I make coffee table books out of the images and I am *SO* going to do that. Great idea! I will create them and sell them with all the proceeds going back into La Tienda. Yeah! 🙂
Watch and see the lives that you are touching, even though we are thousands of miles apart. Be blessed.

Here is a bit of an e-mail that Rachel, the founder of La Tienda, sent out, thanking the ladies who put on last night’s party … I’m sure she won’t mind if I share it here on the blog.

 

“I’m so thankful ya’ll were so generous with your time and energy, setting all that stuff up, and hosting the party.  The thing is it actually does make a difference to the women.  If you could meet Ismena or Jislena you would feel so PLEASED by all the work that you’ve put into all of this.  Ismena is so faithful and trusting, even when I act crazy, and was always willing to work with 100% effort even when there was no money to be had.  She works on those cards.  Oh if you met her it would give you SO much life and inspiration. and Jislena and Anise who spend most of the afternoon Laughing at me and rolling their eyes, but still come in EVERY day, on time, to make paper.

Just know that even though you don’t get to meet these wonderful women you are blessing, that you are impacting their lives and the lives of their children.  And MY life.  I’m totally flabbergasted by the enthusiasm and faithfulness, and excited by it too, because it gives me hope that we can do something to help people if we co-operate. Which is cool news.   It really is Glory to Christ when we co-operate to serve others in his name.  When I run into the co-op today I’m going to tell the women the good news, and we will all life our hands in prayer and thank Jesus for providing our needs.”

You can also join the La Tienda facebook group – check it out! 🙂 

Another way – besides the jewelry parties – that we can help out the work of La Tienda is through our ONLINE AUCTIONS! Have you been following them?! They are so fun and TONS of FABULOUS local businesses have donated items that I am auctioning off (virtually – gotta love technology!) to help raise support for La Tienda! 100% of the money raised goes STRAIGHT to the women of La Tienda! How awesome is that?! 

 

This week’s auction is sponsored by Johanis’ Karate School – so all you moms and dads out there, listen up! This auction is for your kiddos!

Here are the fantastically-wonderful details:

Bid on a three month membership to Johanis’ Karate School  – specifically for Little Ninjas (ages 3-5) or Kinder Karate – This auction item membership is valued at over $400 (WOW!!!!) , with the opening bid set at $50.

100% of the proceeds of this auction will be donated to help the work of La Tienda, a fair trade co-op art store, located in the Dominican Republic. La Tienda.

Located in Orangeville, Ontario, Johanis’ Karate School will help develop positve and social defense skills in your child, all in a friendly, high energy and structured setting. This membership is welcome to new members only.

The winning bidder should contact Gillian Gauthier (that’s me!) at gillian@gigiphotography.com to finalize their payment and receive their membership. 

To start bidding – CLICK HERE!

Let the bidding begin! Yahooo! C’mon! It’s for a fantastic cause and your kids will thank you! It’s a WIN WIN!