Tears streamed down my face as a check for $4567.75 was placed in my hands.

            It all started at my church’s Missions Conference where several missionaries from around the world gathered and shared their stories. I was captivated. My twelve year old ears held on to every word they said as my eyes were glued to the images passing across the screen, images of third world countries, children in need, and tragedy struck villages. Midway through, Vernon Brewer, the President of World Help, made his way onto the stage and spoke of the vast need of churches in India. I paid more and more attention. He then stated the cost, $5,000. I turned to my best friend, Hope, sitting beside me and instantly knew she was thinking the same thing: we were going to raise the money and build a church. The long journey began.

            After the service, we sprinted out to the lobby to tell everyone our plan, including Vernon Brewer. We got the same reaction every time. We received the “how cute, these two little girls want to raise money” look. Friends thought we were insane, and family just thought it was a childish idea, but we thought differently. Our efforts began immediately.

            We brainstormed and decided to babysit, house sit, pet sit, and even take our neighbors’ trashcans to the road every week. Progress was slow. Although slightly discouraged, our determination grew stronger. My dad then hired us to tear down a ceiling. It was in the dead heat of summer; we were suited up with goggles, a face mask, and our oldest clothes. After hours of work we dripped with sweat as we sat on the giant sized pile of ceiling pieces, our faces covered in dust and dirt, we counted our money. Through all our efforts, the total barely reached $300.

            Yarn and a crochet needle were our answer. I had seen my mom crochet scarves before, and got her to teach me how, and then I taught Hope. Hours upon hours we spent together each week at the pool, watching movies, and at the dinner table crocheting scarves through the summer in preparation for our sales in the fall and winter. Our first scarves were crooked and rather ugly to say the least, but we improved. For our first sale we had about twenty scarves and as people stormed our table the scarves disappeared before our eyes and we were forced to take orders down. Our lives were then focused around crocheting. It got to the point that we could successfully make a scarf with our eyes closed. We became professionals, even with our eyes closed. Hope and I were overwhelmed with our success. Through selling the hundreds of scarves, our grand total reached over $2,000. Our dream was becoming a reality before our eyes.

            Christmas was right around the corner, and both Hope and I were performing as “newsies” in our church’s musical Christmas Post. Each year, a love offering was taken up at each performance and usually went to the Rescue Mission, but little did we know, they had something different in mind. They wanted to help us reach our goal of $5,000. That was when I knew our goal was in reach. The night of the big performance came and as the offering plate was passed, we stood in the lobby anxiously waiting. As the ushers came through the doors, our eyes grew bigger as we saw the overflowing plates of money. The day of the big revealing of money was a week later at the cast party. As I stood in front of everyone, my heart began to beat faster and faster as I knew the outcome of our efforts was going to be placed in my hands in moments. Pastor Gregg, our music pastor, with a smile on his face, explained that the amount was much more than they expected. Two large envelopes were given to Hope and me. On the count of three we opened to find a check with a sum of more than we could have ever imagined: $4,567.75. The tears of joy poured down our faces as we hugged each other to the sound of applause. I will never forget that moment: the moment when my dream became reality.

Over the next couple of months Hope and I had several meetings with our Pastor to decide what to do with the extra money. The cost to build a church was $5,000, but our total was greater. The total has grown due to the generosity of those who had heard our story. Today the amount reaches over $15,000. My pastor had recently taken a trip to India and had met a man named Trevor who began a small orphanage. He had received the news that Trevor’s orphanage was overflowing with children, and even had a waiting list. Once we heard of this news, Hope and I were set on building a larger facility for Trevor to use. The building process has been hindered due to persecution and difficulties with the Indian government, but Hope and I just recently received the invite to venture to India this upcoming year for the dedication ceremony of both the church and orphanage.

            This experience has taught me so much. Never will I give up on a dream, or think I am too young. Anything is possible with determination. Looking back through the years, people have never failed to astound me with their generosity and gifts. Hope and I were told that on the night of the performance, and check for $2,000 was placed into the offering plate by a couple who did not know Hope and me or attend our church. They gave out of the kindness of their heart. Also, I have learned the value of support. When times got discouraging, or the money wasn’t coming, we were uplifted by the support of our community. This experience has forever changed me, and I have learned to place value on making an impact that will outlive me rather than material and selfish ambitions. I have learned to give one hundred percent in all I do, and my efforts will show. I am a goal setter and an accomplished dreamer. No matter what I set my mind on, I am beyond determined to finish the job. My drive is what defines me, whether academically, mentally, or through my goals. The value of helping others is immeasurable.