Exceeded expectations

The 10ten10 tour wildly exceeded all that Alli and I had hoped it would be. All praise to God that we were able to make it to every single event on time and, remarkably, we had basically no traffic or weather issues during the trip.

We have shared a lot of anecdotal reflections from the trip thus far in our posts. There have been a lot of wonderful conversations and stories. To give you a brief summary of the trip’s tangible outcomes, here are a few statistics:

• Total number of event attendees:                                               230
• Total number of financial gifts:                                                      93
• Total number of gifts from new donors:                                        77
• Total amount of funds donated:                                          $52,210
• Total number of new families reached as a result of this trip:    260
• Total number of new individuals impacted:                              1,300

We had a goal of raising $25,000 and were able to double that goal in the midst of challenging economic climate. Thank you for choosing to invest in HOPE’s work around the globe through following our trip and for supporting HOPE’s work. We are excited about the lives and hearts that are being transformed around the globe.

The home stretch (Events # 9 and 10)

The whirlwind tour continued as we arrived Friday evening in Vegas and left after breakfast on Saturday. It provided just enough time for Chris and I to walk slack-jawed down “the strip” as we took in the glam, opulence and only-in-Vegas sites. Unfortunately, the quick stop (and many organizational policies) didn’t allow us to double the HOPE donations on the roulette table.

During breakfast, Chris was able to again share about the work of HOPE. This trip has been a wonderful opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of microfinance. As most of you know, Chris is sharing the stories of three individuals at every event. These stories have penetrated my heart and made me a firm believer in the cycle-breaking, empowering, community-changing work of Christ-centered microfinance. And, as I talk to individuals after the events, I’m not alone. Galina, Milan, and Mama Atiya now have a special place in the hearts of people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, and Colorado. For those of you who have been unable to attend an event, I encourage you to e-mail Chris and ask for one of these stories. They’re powerful!

On our way home to Denver, we stopped in the Rockies in Glenwood Springs. We stayed there with a couple who had the opportunity to see HOPE’s work firsthand in Ukraine through their home church community, Mountain View Church. Mountain View has been a huge support to HOPE’s work around the globe and it was great to be able to spend time with the wonderful folks there.

Denver. To be minutes away from our apartment felt like a tease, but we wouldn’t have missed a Kay & Leslie (two super HOPE advocates) party for anything. The food was unbelievable, decorations festive, and a wonderful group of people gathered from all over the Denver/Boulder area. Over 45 attended, most of whom had a cursory knowledge of HOPE’s work. Yet, through Chris, Kay, and Leslie’s sharing, it was clear that by the end of the evening countless individuals had moved from appreciating microfinance as a theoretical development concept to believing in its transformative work. The response was overwhelming.

On the way home that evening Chris and I commented that we felt “full.” We had 2 weeks of enjoying the hospitality, planning, and generosity of other and it was a tremendous experience. What a trip! Thank you each for the part you played – hosting, housing, attending, giving, praying… the list goes on. We’re so grateful for the relationships that were formed and for this opportunity.

*Chris will blog soon regarding some of the tangible results of 10.ten.10

The great outdoors

One of the greatest parts of this trip has been the absolutely breathtaking sights we have witnessed across the country. God’s majesty is in full display in our country and Alli and I have been taking it all in. Having traveled over 6,000 miles and through close to 20 states, we have witnessed some of the most incredibly inspiring scenery. From the Tetons in Wyoming to the great canyons of Utah, it’s been such a joy just to look out the windows as we travel. The picture below was taken as the sun was setting in Utah.

The trip heats up in the Golden State (Event #8)

California greeted Alli and I with the warmest of hospitality. Our time there began with an extended visit to Biola University. There I spoke to a group of engaging and enthusiastic students about HOPE’s work in a variety of settings. Dr. Steve Rundle, our host while we were on campus, treated us to a great dinner in Downtown Disney.

We spent some wonderfully refreshing time with some friends in San Diego. There we had the opportunity to eat quite possibly the world’s largest breakfast. Alli’s blueberry-coconut pancake was the size of a jumbo Frisbee. I kid you not. Despite our best efforts, we weren’t able to finish the breakfast, though we felt good about our attempt.

Today we spent the morning at Point Loma Nazarene University. There I shared about HOPE in Dr. Rob Gailey’s nonprofit management class. While I taught, I had a clear view of the Pacific out the classroom window. Alli and I commiserated that this certainly wasn’t the case while we studied at Taylor University in Central Indiana. Following the class, we had our eighth event-an on-campus cookout. The Point Loma Microfinance Club hosted the event and we had a great turnout. In fact, we had more attendees than burgers, which is a good problem to have.

It’s been wonderful to see these colleges get behind our work, from hosting events, to providing interns, to even sponsoring community banks. We have been encouraged by the wonderful interactions we’ve had with professors and students at some of the premier universities throughout the country. Now we’re on to Las Vegas, where we’re hoping to “hit it big” for HOPE. Kidding.

Sleepless in Sacramento (Events #6 and 7)

Last night Alli and I arrived in Sacramento for a SHORT stayover before pushing off this morning for Los Angeles. Yesterday was our longest travel day as we logged over 14 hours on the road between Seattle and Sacramento.

Our event in Boise, Idaho was outstanding. This was the first-ever HOPE event held in the state of Idaho and we were really greeted warmly by the friends and family of Mark Russell, HOPE’s Director of Spiritual Integration, who is based in Boise. There were close to 20 who gathered at Mark’s church for a desserts and coffee. Mark and I both shared about our work around the globe. Sorry for the lack of pictures–we are getting progressively worse at remembering to take them. Also, Alli, our main photographer, was preoccupied at this event as she served as the fill-in childcare for five little Boiseans.

From Boise, we went straight to Seattle. As soon as we got about an hour from Seattle, we got slammed with a the first rain storm of the trip, which we found very fitting.  We hosted a breakfast yesterday morning for a group of students from Seattle Pacific University, who is partnering with HOPE to expand our work in the Dominican Republic to a new community bank in Puerto Plata, and a group of other HOPE supporters from the Seattle region. The event was held on the gorgeous Lake Washington at The Woodmark Hotel (picture below).

Thus far, we have hosted seven events, with over 150 individuals at those events collectively. We have traveled well over 4,000 miles and driven through 11 states. And the journey continues…

Welcome to the Cowboy State (Event #5)

The last two days have been spent in Wyoming. It’s a state that we quickly discovered is full of beauty, character, and community. We were welcomed by the Casper Missionary Alliance Church. Bob & Nancy opened their home to us and from their overlook provided breathtaking views of the unique Wyoming terrain and the city of Casper.

As Chris’ birthday is in early September and mine is in March we were both slightly confused when Nancy surprised us with a birthday party at our 5th event. She kindly reminded us of the fact that our trip is centered around the fact that HOPE is turning 10 – we’ll blame our dimwittedness on the hours in the car. Each event has been so different with locations, people, food, etc… the Casper event was no exception. Nancy had birthday presents to hand out to guests, a cake complete with #10 candles, blow-up globes for each table, and a world map shower curtain as a decorative piece!

We continue to love this opportunity. In many areas the mission of HOPE serves to reignite the passions and hearts of individuals as they ponder over the various forms ministry can take in this time. Questions are being asked at each event which spur on deeper thinking in our own hearts. And, once again, we are being reminded of larger Church we are apart of.

* I should also mention that our time in Casper ended with us joining a young couple from the church for a morning prairie dog hunt. Our time in Wyoming is now complete.

The great midwest (Events #3 and 4)

The last few days have been packed. Tuesday night we drove from Canton, Ohio into Indiana where we stayed with some friends at Taylor University. Wednesday was filled with meetings at Taylor University and Wednesday evening we hosted our third event at Rock Bottom Brewery in Indianapolis. We had a great turnout. There were close to 40 who came to hear about HOPE, many of whom had never heard of the organization before.

We left straight from the Indianapolis event for Chicago and arrived there late Wednesday evening. We held a breakfast outside of Chicago this morning for about 20 HOPE supporters. We were very warmly received by everyone who attended and it was great to connect with some of HOPE’s supporters in the Chicagoland area. Following the breakfast, I had the opportunity to meet with a group of professors and students at Wheaton College, which was encouraging. It was the first time I’ve been on the campus and I was really encouraged by the intensity and enthusiasm I observed in the individuals whom I met with.

We then hit the road for Casper, Wyoming, where we will be hosting an event on Friday evening. We made it halfway and are spending the night in Omaha, Nebraska as we gear up for a big trip tomorrow morning.

The journey begins (Event #2)

Alli and I pushed off from Lancaster bright and early Tuesday morning (picture below) as we started our journey across the country. We had a great day interacting with students and faculty members at Grove City College, a hotbed for former and potential HOPE interns and employees. I spoke in a class: “Entreprenurial Solutions to Global Poverty” and we had a great response from the class–a very engaging group of students interested in exploring ways for Christians to use business principles to make a difference in the world.

We had a good event in Canton, Ohio. We met with HOPE supporters at 91 Restaurant in Canton. We enjoyed connecting with them. We’re expecting a big turnout tonight in Indianapolis. Over 40 people have RSVP’d. We’ll post an update tomorrow with the details.

Lancaster kickoff event summary (Event #1)

Today we held the kickoff event for the 10.ten.10 tour. We had a great turnout at the luncheon and we are excited about the momentum we’re developing as we begin this journey. The luncheon was held at Clyde’s Restaurant at Lancaster’s Hilton Garden Inn. Lots of friends and family showed up to celebrate with Alli and I as we embark on this journey. There was also a large contingency of HOPE staff members who joined us. It was a tough crowd!

In addition to the dollars raised, there were several individuals who committed to joining a trip to the Dominican Republic in January. Thankfully, there were no serious hitches and it was a joy to begin this journey with such a great first event. We’ll post a trip progress update in a few days so stay tuned for that.

Idaho Statesman article

Today the Idaho Statesman, the largest newspaper in Idaho, posted a story about HOPE’s upcoming event in Boise on October 5. Click here to read the article online.

Here is a short snippet from the article:

On Oct. 5, Russell and other HOPE representatives will celebrate the organization’s 10th anniversary with a presentation about HOPE’s microfinance program and how, why and what makes the process successful. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Eastwind Church, 4750 S. Surprise Way, Boise.

“Our church has worked for many years with impoverished people in the Third World, and we have often wondered what might be the best way to realistically bring about long-term change,” said Mark Traylor, pastor at Eastwind Church…

I will be posting shortly regarding the great first event which was held this afternoon in Lancaster, PA.