Auction Rules and such

So we are really getting down to crunch time in this auction! Very fun stuff if you ask me. The Auction will take place on Thursday June 16 at 5:30pm CST and will end on Friday June 17 at 5:30pm CST. This should allow anyone wanting to participate the ability to do so! I will have the items/pictures/description/bid info in TWO locations.

One place will be right here on my blog. I have tons of friends who have no desire to do the facebook thing and that is A-Okay! But I still want you to participate. I will post each individual item in it's own separate post and you will be able to bid in the comments section. I will check in periodically to update to the current bid price so that you know what is going on over on facebook too!

The other place will be on facebook. Go to that link and "like" the Going Going Ghana Auction community page and you will be all set to bid. Same basic principles over there as on the blog. There will be a photo with the item description, photo and bidding info and you will bid in the comments.

Some items will have free shipping as the donors have provided it with their donations. Others will have a shipping cost and I will be sure to point that out in the auction info. If you live local, you will be able to pick the item(s) up from me or have me drop them off to you.

I will be accepting payment via paypal, money order, or cash (for locals only). Sorry kids not messing with checks from people I may not know. Once your item is paid for I will ship it to you (or the donor will) as quickly as possible. If someone falls through on a payment (which won't happen because you all are awesome!), I will go to the 2nd place bidder and offer the item to them.

ALL proceeds will be divided 50/50 to go into my personal travel fund for our trip to Ghana and into The Village of Life school fund.

If there is ANYTHING at all I missed, let me know! This is the first time I have ever done something like this but even if I have forgotten something, I will update this post as necessary or I am a pretty reasonable person and we will solve any issues that arise. Sound good?

Thank you all for your help and support. Can't wait to get this party started :)

What this auction is all about!

In November I will be traveling with 2 of my friends to Kete Krachi Ghana for a smidge over 2 weeks to work with trafficked children at The Village of Life and on Lake Volta. We will be loving on them, learning their stories, telling their stories, and prayerfully furthering the effort in releasing more children from modern day slavery on the lake and in the homes of these masters. More info about our trip can be found here.

This auction is a fundraising effort for our trip. The money raised will be split in half and used for two purposes. Half of the money will go into my travel fund to help make sure I am on the plane in November! The other half will go to The Village of Life school fund. We need to raise a total of $30,000 to construct a new school on The Village of Life campus. This project will allow George Achibra and the staff of PACODEP to continue rescuing and educating the children on Lake Volta. If less than 50% raised will finish off my trip expenses, we can give even MORE to the school fund!

If you do not want to or do not have time to or any other reason there is not to participate in the auction... PLEASE consider donating. There are donation buttons on the right side of this blog. One of the accounts is for my travel fund and the other is the school fund. Every dollar helps!

Thank you all for dropping in and participating in this great auction. I look forward to seeing the action unfold. Have fun!

Auction will open at 5:30pm CST on Thursday June 16 and will close 24 hours later at 5:30pm on Friday June 17.

Thank you.

I have been talking to my husband, Kyle, and friend, J.D., lately about how sometimes God's provision can look a lot like something you really don't want to do or go through.

That is what I was thinking 2 months ago when I was facing having my 2nd acl repair on my left knee. Why is this happening? Why am I being punished this way, I love sports and working out and being active... this is going to slow me down so much. I have TOO much going on right now and to add this is just too much on my plate. I was sad and angry and a little frustrated with the idea of surgery and rehab and restricted activities.

And now I kind of look back and laugh a little. I would have never had time to slow down and run this auction without being injured. I am not naturally a person who slows down. I am typically a person who, while pretty organized and planned, fails to give myself enough time to accomplish things. I bank on having enough time then end up being too busy and overwhelmed and put it off and then get really stressed out.

I also was given something, in Ghana and in fundraising, to keep me busy and motivated while rehabbing. Something to do and stay busy with when anxiety was high and I couldn't go for a run. Something to do when family troubles seemed to be mounting and I couldn't hit a fitness class or the gym.

I was forced to slow down by an injury. And it gave me the time and resources to focus on what God wants my heart to focus on. It has given me time to contact amazing people for the auction and have the most beautiful conversations with them. It has introduced me to so many new and talented friends. It has shown me that money isn't really what fundraising is about so much as creating a community with the same passion and goal. And it has shown me how many ways help can come from people.

So if you have helped at all with this auction, I thank you! Truly you have been part of my "healing" during my knee injury by helping me. You have been part of preparing my heart for this trip. You have been part of spreading the word about our trip and our passion for trafficked children with others. And more importantly God's passion for these children.And as we head toward the auction on Thursday, I want you all to know that I am grateful and blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. Thank you so much for your support and love. And thank you God for a big project to keep me focused and healthy through a difficult injury and surgery.

Illini Scarf!

And for those of you who don't know what the heck and Illini is... shame on you! ;) But in your case, it can simply be a very beautiful orange and blue scarf but please go find out who the Fighting Illini are :) My friend Carrie made this lovely scarf for the auction.

Custom print canvas preview

Have I mentioned lately that I have EXTREMELY talented friends? Well... I do :)

This item comes from Kim Burke. She is a designer at a sign company in Indiana (check them out if you are close to Lafayette!). She created a 24x12" custom designed print on canvas, ready to hang. Here is the little gem for you:

Clutch Purse Preview

My great friend Kristie made a gorgeous clutch purse for the auction. Here is what she has to say about it:

This gathered clutch is perfect for a casual night out. Measuring 9.5 inches wide and 5.5 inches deep, it's just big enough for all the essentials. The lack of interior pockets maximizes space and allows you to fit more items inside. 

100% cotton construction with stained wood buttons on front and a plastic zipper. 

Plain back. 

Handmade.

Auction info!

So we are really getting down to crunch time in this auction! Very fun stuff if you ask me. The Auction will take place on Thursday June 16 at 5:30pm CST and will end on Friday June 17 at 5:30pm CST. This should allow anyone wanting to participate the ability to do so! I will have the items/pictures/description/bid info in TWO locations.

One place will be right here on my blog. I have tons of friends who have no desire to do the facebook thing and that is A-Okay! But I still want you to participate. I will post each individual item in it's own separate post and you will be able to bid in the comments section. I will check in periodically to update to the current bid price so that you know what is going on over on facebook too!

The other place will be on facebook. Go to that link and "like" the Going Going Ghana Auction community page and you will be all set to bid. Same basic principles over there as on the blog. There will be a photo with the item description, photo and bidding info and you will bid in the comments.

Some items will have free shipping as the donors have provided it with their donations. Others will have a shipping cost and I will be sure to point that out in the auction info. If you live local, you will be able to pick the item(s) up from me or have me drop them off to you.

I will be accepting payment via paypal, money order, or cash (for locals only). Sorry kids not messing with checks from people I may not know. Once your item is paid for I will ship it to you (or the donor will) as quickly as possible. If someone falls through on a payment (which won't happen because you all are awesome!), I will go to the 2nd place bidder and offer the item to them.

ALL proceeds will be divided 50/50 to go into my personal travel fund for our trip to Ghana and into The Village of Life school fund.

If there is ANYTHING at all I missed, let me know! This is the first time I have ever done something like this but even if I have forgotten something, I will update this post as necessary or I am a pretty reasonable person and we will solve any issues that arise. Sound good?

Thank you all for your help and support. Can't wait to get this party started :)