Hope and Spaghetti - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

There was an excited buzz dancing through the air. It paired well with the thick, delicious smell of toasted garlic bread, savory spaghetti sauce, and topped with the decadent scent of chocolate cake and cookies. Laughter was ringing out through the room. It was full of beautiful, smiling faces. Waitresses clad in black and white moved gracefully from table to table, taking orders, filling drinks, and making sure everyone was taken care of.

I stood at a distance for a moment. Taking it all in. Breathing in the hope and beauty found in a simple, elegant, and spectacular spaghetti dinner. As I glanced over all the faces in the room, I noted their joyous expressions as they laughed and talked over their meal together. And my heart was filled with love. It was filled with Hope.

On the last Monday in June, my small group from Hope Community Church decided that they wanted to host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for me. And I was absolutely blown away and blessed by the event. It was more than I could have ever hoped for or imagined!

My small group leaders had turned their house into a restaurant for the night. Their living room had been cleared of the furniture, and tables and chairs were grouped around the room. Lovely table clothes adorned the tables, and menus drawn up by the kids had been laid on each table. They had me give them some facts and stories about myself, and these now lay in colorful strips across the tables to read as well.

The kitchen had been transformed into a massive, spaghetti dinner making extravaganza. Garlic bread waiting to be toasted filled a whole table. The kitchen table was full of salad ready to be served. On the counter, spaghetti pots waited to be filled with noodles and meatball sauce that were being cooked outside. More spaghetti sauce was being cooked on the stove. On another counter, chocolate cake and cookies filled every inch of space. It was amazing.

As the night went on, we had over one hundred people come by I'm sure. I was able to meet a few new people, share stories, share about my trip, laugh, and just fellowship. I marveled the whole night at the incredible support and love I was receiving from my wonderful church, Hope Community Church. They were truly offering hope to me that night. They were taking a beautiful part of being the hands and feet of Christ in my journey.

That night, right before I left, we counted the money and found that $735 had been raised! I was blown away by all that had come in in just three short hours over a spaghetti dinner. But, by the next morning, the total had climbed to $1,168! God is so good. I am continually left in awe at home incredible He truly is, and how big. How he can come up with these amazing results. How He can move my amazing small group to put on such an amazing event.

I will never forget that night. To everyone who hosted, helped, organized, planned, cooked, served, ate, laughed, donated, supported, loved…THANK YOU. I feel like those words don't properly express just how grateful I am. I was blessed by more than just the financial support I received. I was blessed even more by the hope you offered, and love. I am blessed to be a part of a life giving, hope offering church. So here's to you, Hope Community Church. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ, and helping send me on this great mission Christ has called me to.

You have been His hands and feet here, and your hands and feet will be traveling with me around the world these next eleven months. Keep shining His hope every day!

Here are a few pictures from the event!

(Entering in from the front door)