Pride is like a wall. It’s a barrier and often an obstacle
in our life paths. A wall that
many of us are to stubborn to break down.
I used to have a pretty big wall. We’re talking Great Wall of China folks. Seemingly impenetrable. But slowly, brick by brick I’ve been
able to disassemble the wall.
Well, most of it. There was
still this little nub, a row of bricks that I would trip over each time I
passed by, but I wasn’t ready to finish off the wall yet. I should be able to do some things on
my own. I mean, I’m a strong,
twenty-something independent female.
Or at least that’s what feminism tells me.
But the truth is, what good is surrendering 99% of my pride
if I still hold on to that little bit?
That row of bricks that continually trips me up? It’s would be better to just be rid of
it all and walk freely. I’m sick
of stubbing my toe on those stupid bricks and I’m ready to throw them away once
and for all.
So here it goes, my last little bit of pride I’m kicking it
to the curb and I’m finally admitting that
I can’t do any of this on my own.
Any of it.
I’ve known for a long time I need God’s help in
everything. That was 99% of my
wall. But that last 1%? Well, that was admitting that I need
help from people, specifically you.
By now you know that God’s called me back to Bolivia to
serve for an indefinite period of time.
That I’m going to be partnering with Hospitals of Hope, running their
coffee shop and helping with volunteers,
and you know that I’m leaving as soon as possible, aka as soon as I get
the $7.500 I need to live and work there for 10 months raised.
And let me tell you, God has been so good! It’s been two weeks since I officially
started fundraising and so far $1100 has been raised! I was also informed by my contact Daniel at HOH that as soon
as I have $1000 in my account (which I am assuming is physical dollars, not
pledges) we will book my flight.
I am so excited and so terrified at the same time, because I
know that day is coming soon.
But while the $7,500 covers costs such as transportation,
housing, food, ministry etc., any costs above and beyond that are mine to
figure out, and let me tell you, there are a lot of costs.
Bolivia is considered a developing country or third
world. Many of the items we use
everyday either aren’t available there or they come at a hefty price. For example, one day I was in the
grocery store and found a stand of strawberry pop tarts. I love pop tarts, so I ran over and
they were $11 for one box. Ouch!
While I don’t plan on packing any pop tarts with me as I
head for Bolivia (I don’t love them that much!), other products like shampoo
come with similar price tags. And
clothing? Well, because I am
unfortunately not a size 6, or even a 10 for that matter I can basically forget
about it. That is unless I want to
strut down the street in a nice velvet Quechua skirt. I don’t know if they’d really like me much if I did that.
So, I will be packing nearly everything I need with me, and
it’s overwhelming. God has blessed
me with enough money this summer to pay my bills that come along with living
here, like care insurance, but that doesn’t leave much for anything beyond
current necessities, like gas.
And that’s why I need your help.
I need your
help in just acquiring the day to day items I will need to bring with me.
While God has blessed me immensely this summer through
couponing, allowing me to fill nearly all of my oral care needs, razors and
deodorant for less than $5, couponing abilities only stretch so far.
So how can you help?
- Do you
have any old unused giftcards laying around the house or gathering dust in
your wallet? Unless it’s for
someplace like Home Depot I guarantee I can put it to good use! - You
can help me by financially supporting my acquisition of the items I need. - Maybe
you have some of these items lying around your house. I need everything from shampoo to
batteries and a packable rain jacket so chances are you have something. - Or
maybe you just want to go on a shopping trip and by the items…
However you want to help, the help would be greatly
appreciated!
So now I know what you’re thinking. What the heck do you need? Well, like I said I need everything
from shampoo to batteries and a packable rain jacket. I’ve compiled a visual
list with descriptions of many items I need on my Pinterest site.
Pinterest Name: Amanda Dorough
Board Name: Bolivia or Bust!
If you don’t have Pinterest but would like a list feel free
to email me at [email protected] or
leave a comment and I will send one to you. And like I said above, giftcards or finances to get these
items work as well!
Now here comes the biggest laying down my pride part. It’s something I’ve debated about
posting but it’s also something I’ve been praying for God to provide for months
and I feel like I need to ask because, maybe one of you will be able to help
me.
I’m a photographer.
Maybe you knew that, maybe you didn’t. I love taking pictures, but even more I love sharing stories
through pictures. Stories of God’s
creation and what God is doing in the world, and I’m super excited for the
stories of God’s work that I’m going to be able to share from my time in
Bolivia.
But…. Well here it goes. I need a camera.
Well, actually I need two cameras, kinda… There, I said it.
Now let me explain.
After graduating college I used my graduation money to by a Canon
Rebel. It’s just a basic DSLR but
it still took amazing photos.
There’s just something about photo’s taken with a DSLR. The quality seems to capture people’s
attention more. My Rebel has been
a good camera. It’s been
well-traveled and taken close to 70,000 photos, and it’s getting tired. I can already see the photo quality
lacking compared to newer cameras, but the real problem is the lens. I may or may not have dropped it at
some point along the road, the lens barrel got a little bent, and now I am
unable to take wide angle photos, which are the primary type of photos I
take. A new lens will cost me
$170. $170 that I don’t have. And that’s my first need, a new 18-55mm
lens. While my heart actually
yearns for a new camera, the new Rebel, or I guess even a used Rebel, I know
that the only piece I can actually claim I need is the lens.
To continue on,
there are some aspects of my ministry where a large black Digital SLR will be
to intrusive, like when I’m in hospitals and in some village situations where
the Bolivians have superstitions against big cameras (it’s true). This is why I really want to bring a
point and shoot camera. Something
small and discreet that can be used to take photos in these situations. Even though I’m a Canon girl, currently
I’m not too picky and would be willing to take a camera from any brand, used or
new.
So, maybe you have a camera at home that you never use, or
you just feel it lain on your heart to help me out. I can tell you that I desperately want to share the stories
of God’s work, in fact, I consider my photography a huge part of my ministry,
so your help would be greatly appreciated.
In fact any help that I can get in acquiring any of these
items is so, so greatly appreciated.
Anything can be sent to my home address at
2212 165th Ave Ct E
Lake Tapps, Wa 98391
I know I can’t get all these things on my own. I know I need help, so this is my
laying down my last little chunk of pride and asking for it.
————————————————————-
In the end I would also like to take the chance to thank
some of those people who have helped me already.
To Rikki Lynn, who so graciously gave me her backpack,
before the World Race was even over.
To Karen Lynn who dove into her couponing stockpile to help
me and helped me put together care packs for kids in the Bolivian hospitals.
To Lisa Triola and Jessica Montenegro for supplying a ton of
goodies for the care packs.
And to my Mom for her willingness to help me acquire the
things I need.
Thank you.
Thank you, and God Bless!
