A couple
months ago we sent out about 280 letters asking for help to fund our daughter’s
trip to Costa Rica to study leaf cutter ants.
She needed to raise $3300 for the trip.
I was expecting that the letters would result in about $2000 of
help. The generosity of people is
amazing! She has exceeded the amount she
needed with the help of a couple other fundraisers. The excess monies will go toward the marching
band trip she will be taking to Orlando in over winter break, where they will
be working with people who do the score for a film as well as (hopefully)
marching at some of the parks.
I learned a long time ago that if you don’t ask, the answer
is automatically “No.” Sending these
letters out was a risk for us. What we
learned is that we are loved. That
people want to give money for significant, educational experiences. That people want to support unique learning
opportunities. That giving of ourselves
and our resources comes back to us. That
the act of taking risks can be more rewarding than expected. That our daughter is respected for her
choices and her desire to learn.
Oh God of all that is good, thank you for the affirmation we
receive through the many gifts and talents of others. When we ask we will receive, just as we were
taught in scriptures. We ask for your
presence with these young scientists as they prepare to travel abroad to learn
more about the value of one of the smallest creatures in creation. Guide the students as they will work to find
ways for the crops and people to co-exist with the leaf-cutter ants. Keep them safe as they experience life
between volcanoes. But mostly, thank you
for the generosity of our friends and family who have helped us financially
with this trip and who are holding all these students and their chaperones in
their prayers. Amen.