Mothers day, mini sessions!

A HUGE thank you to anyone who donated stuff for the sales!  Thanks to you and the awesome support from family and friends with some private donations, I REACHED my first goal of $2,200!!!!!!  

One of my favorite days is Mothers day, when us hard-working, kid loving mom's get a bit of recognition and love!  

This year, as most of you know by now...I am trying to raise money for a short term missions trip to Ethiopia.  

Putting two things that I LOVE together; kids and photography I have come up with a GREAT fundraiser that will hopefully get me A LOT closer to my remaining goal of $1500!

So, for mothers day, treat yourself to some professional photos of your kiddos!  NOTHING better!

Here are the details:

All sessions will be outdoor shoots, kids only (not enough time for family sessions, although I will book those as well and put towards my fundraising if you are interested) AND locations will be finalized this week and once you book a time slot, you will receive location information!

** Friday May 10th ...30 minute time slots starting at 9am, last session at 6pm. (no sessions 12-1).

Cost $50 for 5 high res, edited images of your child/children.  Each additional print $10. **If you're a MOPS momma, basically same set up as Family pics last Fall**

I am starting to book sessions NOW...message me or comment below to select your time slot.  Payment of $50 is due at time of booking to hold your spot, you pay for additional images if you select any after the shoot.

All ages welcome!  

oh, and who doesn't love a DEAL?!  Get a friend to book and you get 1 free additional image!  Pass it on guys!!

Uncharted - you can say that AGAIN!

Last week, I was feeling very overwhelmed.  Fundraising is HARD, fundraising for a mission trip is even harder!  As of last Sunday, I had $1600 to meet my first fundraising goal of $2,200!  

I felt like maybe it wasn't meant to be and maybe I wasn't going to be going to Africa  after-all  little did I know - God had a big week planned for me.

I decided to just sit back and watch what was meant to happen, happen.  I had two fundraisers in place last week and I had the wheels in motion.  I vowed in prayer to give it my ALL last week and if I gave it my ALL, then all that was left to do was to sit back and watch God make it happen!  He can do great things ya know?  

I loaded up my car with loads and loads of people's donations for either the garage sale or kids consignment sale and BAM - sales were great!  Like, HUGE great!  

Drum roll please...

Garage sale: $502!

Kids sale: $347!

Donations from friends/family last week alone: $250!

SO, now here I am a week later and BAM, I went from $1600 needed to only $400 left! 

I went to church Sunday and it was one of those days where I left and shook my head  with a smile on my face thinking "ok, God...yup, that was meant JUST for me".

I tried to get a clip from Sunday's sermon on here to share...just the clip that had such a huge impact on me.  BUT, me and technology - welp, we have a love/hate relationship (and tonight...it's sleeping on the couch!)  The message was mainly about being obedient in your Faith.  It is a great message on taking the next step when you feel you are being called (and the kicker)...even when it means no sense to you.  Of course, this can apply to any step of Faith.  The message was so directly connected to this missions trip though it was amazing!  I have always wanted to go on a short term missions trip, until last year I had no idea really how or what was involved.  A friend planted the seed (and went first which is super helpful) and when the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance!  I know it will be life changing for me, but it is a scary thing to do!  I would be lying if I didn't say I am a bit scared.  Scared of my safety, my kids and being so far away from them for 10 days, and another BIG fear is what I will see, feel, live while I am there.  These kids are going to change my life way more than I will change theirs , this I know for sure!  However, I can hardly wait to hug them, talk to them and do by best to share the story of Gods love.  

When Pastor George paused and said (paraphrasing)"sometimes you don't know why you are going or it seems very overwhelming to do what is being asked, but if you go to the area that is Uncharted, you will know what was meant for you".  Basically, "Kendra, stop over thinking...GO.  Stop worrying....PRAY.  Stop holding back...FOLLOW."

It was powerful and SO SO fun to watch!

Uncharted is about the BEST word I could use to describe this trip!  Africa??  I haven't been anywhere but Mexico as far as out of country...and, Ethiopia?  It is something SO different, SO new and yet SO important.  I want to give to these orphans!  Can you help me get there?  

I am making ONE.FINAL.PUSH. and starting a Pledge Drive today and tomorrow!  I need 30 people to donate $14.00!  Donate and I will also throw in a Qdoba card for the first 20 people! 

I am SO close, I can feel it! 

$14.00 is it.  Skip coffee, dessert or lunch out?  I promise, after this first BIG push...I am only doing two small fundraisers and they are super fun, easy and you GET something for  the money, I promise! ;)  

So, can you be 1 of my 30?

www.visitingorphans.org

DONATE - right hand corner

Lee Team - July Ethiopia

When it asks you if you want to donate to a specific person ***SELECT yes*** Kendra Lanterman

And, THANK YOU!!  Love you people!  MWAAA!

Fundraising Journey Step 2

SO, the kids sale was a big success, but I still have a LONG way to go! The first large portion of our donations is due April 15th and holy cow that is right around the corner!

My team and I have started conference calls to get to know each other better, as well as a study specific to discipleship and how to teach the love of God as we take ourselves on this journey in July.  I have started praying for lots of specific things in regards to my trip; strength for what I will see and witness, my health, my kids health and safety while I am away and for all of the hands and lives I will touch the short time I am there.  The coolest part is knowing that not ONE person, I will meet by chance.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for me!

I still need LOTS of donations and help in order to get there though.  Here are a few simple and easy things you can do to help support my effort to visit these orphans:

Qdoba Cards - Who doesn't love a good ol' burrito?  I have GREAT coupons from Qdoba, simply email me at Kendra.Lanterman@gmail.com that you want one and your address and I will send you a paypal link to pay $10 and then mail you the Qdoba card!  EASY!  Ask around your office or friends!

Give me your JUNK! - In an effort to fundraise, I will also be co-hosting a garage sale with my momma!  It is that time of year for Spring cleaning...as you are cleaning out your closets, I will gratefully accept anything that I can sell at a garage sale!  Remember people, garage salers find treasures in anything!  Surely you have a small bag of stuff you can put on your front porch for me to pick up?  I will be collecting donations Sunday March 31st all day.  Email me your address so I can add you to my pick up list:  Kendra.Lanterman@gmail.com.  A reminder email will also go out the week before pick-ups.

MORE Kids Stuff - Since the last time was such a success, I am asking to collect more of your old kids items for another consignment sale April 10th!  Swings, shoes, diapers, toys, clothes, ANYTHING!  Again, email me to let me know you have stuff and I will be picking up Sunday March 31st for this as well!  Kendra.Lanterman@gmail.com. 

I have more fun fundraisers up my sleeve BUT I am hoping these three things will get me to my next goal of $1700!  I can NOT do this without you guys so please start cleaning out those closets, the shed, or crave some yummy Qdoba ;)

Thanks SO much for your consideration and support!  

150...Are you one of my 150?

First of all, a HUGE thank you to those who found a bag or two (or four) of their kiddos old clothes, toys, books, shoes, etc for the sale last month.  The fundraiser went GREAT and we raised a total of $631! 

As you start Spring Cleaning, if you come across any items kid related that you can no longer use, bag it for me.  I will come get it and I plan to sell more stuff at the April 10th Arvada JBF sale as well! 

Ok, now for the next Fundraiser!!  My first financial goal in order to raise enough to purchase airline tickets and reserve our dates is April 19th.  I have to have $2,200 raised by that date!  SO, I need more help! 

Will you pledge with me?!

According to WorldOrphans.org, there is an estimated 153,000,000 orpahns worldwide!  I am reaching out to ALL of you Facebook friends and asking you to donate $15.30 to my trip to Ethiopia.  If 150 of my friends donate this small amount we would raise $2,295! 

Will you be 1 of my 150?  Help me go hug these precious babies. 

It is easy to scroll on and move on...I am asking you to Stop, Donate and Help.

Proverbs 22:9  He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

15 facts you may not know about Ethiopia and its' people

1. Ethiopia is ranked by the UN’s Human Development Index as one of the four poorest countries in the world
2. Population is expected to double in the next 20-30 years
3. 1 in 10 children die before their first birthday
4. 1 physician for every 34,988 people
5. Although accurate statistics are hard to come by, it is estimated that approximately 4.4% of the population in Ethiopiais infected with AIDS (CIA World Factbook) and that there are approximately 1 million AIDS orphans
6. Over 50% of children are stunted
7. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of more than half of all child deaths
8. The median age in Ethiopia is 17.8 years
9.  around 45 per cent of Ethiopia's population are less than 14 years old
10. About 4.8 million children are missing one or both parents.
11. Only 26% of the population has access to safe water.
12. There are 600,000 children who have been orphaned due to AIDS-related deaths of one or both parents
13. Average annual income is $160
14. The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months. Each month has 30 days, but the last month of the year has only 5-6 days.
15. And, a fun one...It is the birthplace of COFFEE!

Ok, donating is SUPER EASY!! Just click below and BAM! YOU are making a HUGE difference ;) 

IF you do not have a PayPal account OR if tax deductible donations are important to you, you can easily follow these steps to donate online directly through Visiting Orphans:


Click HERE to go direct to Visiting Orphans webpage

Once there, go to the top right and click DONATE.

Then, under Fund Category select "Lee Team July Ethiopia"

Enter your donation amount

***VERY important..you MUST select Yes when it asks if you want to preference your donation to a specific person!  Select YES and enter my name: Kendra Lanterman

You will be emailed a receipt you can use for tax purposes.



A recap: A BIG announcement!

Click HERE for the background on my decision to go on this life changing trip!