Halfway mark!

So in my experience with anything that is long term, which really just comes from (semi) long distance running and a previous year abroad, its the first half of the effort that is the most difficult. I guess you could say four years in college is a semi-long term adjustment as well. In the first half I find myself figuring out the routine (or in the case of running, the steps and adjusting to the surroundings and elements), growing accustomed to what is occuring, and building up momentum to stay in it for the long haul. In some ways, this has been the case with fundraising. The only other time I've really set out to raise money was selling Girl Scout Cookies and doing Fundraisers to offset the cost of other trips and experiences. I've done some fundraising here or there with other organizations, but never for something directly benefiting me; so, its been a learning experience. I am continually floored by the support and enthusiasm of my peers and people who have heard me speak about my upcoming experience. Its great to know so many people are energized about this upcoming year. I'm over halfway to my fundraising goal for the year already!

Yesterday, a few of my friends hosted a fundraising soiree benefitting me and another friend, Laura, who is going to be a YAV in Guatemala. What started out as a small get together turned into over 50 people coming out- and all to support the two of us! Another friend, Tad, who is going to Chicago, came to the fundraiser as well. It was a neat opportunity to share our stories with friends and acquantances, and to spread the word about what it means (or what we understand it to mean) to be a Young Adult Volunteer).

Check out Laura and Tad's blogs, which in just over a month will be updated with their respective adventures living the Gospel in Guatemala and Chicago, respectively.


Tad, a 2010-2011 YAV to be in Chicago--> http://thopp.blogspot.com/

Laura, a 2010-2011 YAV to be in Guatemala--> http://guatstheword.blogspot.com/

Letter, Flyer, Covenant of Support

charged

Grace Presbytery, in the I think quarterly meeting, officially commissioned the six young adult volunteers in mission for the upcoming calendar year- Tad Hopp (Chicago), Edward Lewis (N Ireland), Lauren Rampy (New Orleans), Laura Amlin (Guatemala), Adrienne Stanley (N Ireland), and me! It was a really neat step on the journey of my upcoming year as a YAV in Tucson. Everyone I spoke to about Tucson was really supportive and excited about my upcoming experience there.

I'm so glad I made the journey to Temple, TX to attend the service and be recognized. It just makes it that much more official and real that the six of us are about to go off onto exciting adventures in being!

Flyer Highlights

Stevie Demarest
Young Adult Volunteer
Tucson, AZ 2010-2011
ECO# E051440

About Tucson
Population: 541,811
18.4 % of the population is below the poverty line

Contact Information
Sldemarest@gmail.com

Education
Ursuline Academy of Dallas, 2004
BA from Austin College, 2008
Major: Media Communications
Minors: Latin American Studies, Spanish

Church Affiliation
Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church
9800 Preston Road
Dallas, TX 75230

Why I Want to Serve as a YAV
I am embarking on a journey. In this next year of service with YAV I will experience new opportunities for growth, see the world in a different light, and be challenged in ways I have yet imagined. At a conference last summer I felt truly moved and inspired by the keynoter’s accounts of working in ministry in the Tucson border area. He described the dire situations, the struggles, and the hope the immigrants had in a better life in the United States. His stories of selfless compassion and living by the greatest commandment- “to love your neighbor as yourself” called to me. I wanted to be a part of this, and very soon I will be a part of this. I will be exploring the call of the gospel in the social and political realities of the border area.


How Can You Support Me? With…
• Your prayers: Pray for me and for the people with whom I will work this year.
• Your interests in my year of service: Follow my experience through my newsletters posted at www.pcusa.org/missionconnections, or through my blog at http://desertwindsyav.blogspot.com/. Also, please contact me with any questions or comments about my YAV year.
• Your financial gifts: Give a tax-deductible gift. Please consider pledging an amount, given as a one-time gift or in installments of the course of my year of service. Complete and return the Covenant of Support form to me. Checks, made out to The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) can be sent to Presbyterian Remittance Processing; P.O. Box 643700; Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Be sure to put my name and ECO# in the memo! You may also give by credit-card at www.pcusa.org/give or www.pcusa.org/yav.

Fundraising Update!

Donations are beginning to come in! I'm so excited that other people are supporting me. It's always uncomfortable asking for money. I feel like with this experience, its more a matter of sharing my story and the stories of other YAVs, and others will get interested. Prayers, thoughts, and the rest will come.
Thank you, PHPC Godspell (and Sunday School and the Bible) performances for so effectively teaching me:
"Don't worry about tomorrow, for today has enough worries of its own. Don't ask 'what am I to eat, what am I to drink'" Then, in the PHPC Godspell version, somebody asks "But what am I to eat" and in unison everyone replies

"Don't ask that!"

I now have another story to personify that verse to me- the thoughts and prayers and donations that are pouring in in support of my upcoming YAV year!

Thanks so much!

Supporters!

Hi friends.
In addition to your prayers while I'm abroad, I have fundraising goals. In the previous posts and mailings, I gave an address for the National YAV office. I ask that instead of sending financial donations there, you send them directly to the organization with which I'll be working, to avoid a 5% surcharge. Make them payable to Tucson YAV site, and mail them to
Linda Marshal
716 S. Lucinda Dr.
Tucson AZ, 85748

you would still write my name as a part of the memo line.

Thanks so much friends!

Fundraising Beginnings

I figured asking for money would be awkward, uncomfortable, and full of many blank responses, or responses such as "why would you do such a thing?"

But it hasn't been that way at all. I sent out quite a few mailings with a flyer (that is really pretty, and once I figure out how I'll show you what it looks like), and a letter explaining what I'm doing. The main purpose of me sending these flyers/letters wasn't to ask for money, I feel like that will come, but to spread the word about what this little group of young people is doing. I think YAV years, and other organizations/opportunities like it are pretty neat, but also like hidden gems. So now there are a good amount of people that know just a little more about my story about becoming a Young Adult Volunteer. Also, I have been completely floored as to the response. I've gotten so many texts, emails, phone calls, etc. asking for more details, saying they'll be thinking of me, and telling me about the donations they want to make!
I do think that in the letter, even after my five times reviewing it, I forgot to say what to do with the pledge form. Oops. Even with that not being on there, people are still going out of their way to figure out the details, and to support me! Also- if you're reading this thinking "man, I really thought Stevie would want me to know more about this, but I didn't get a flyer" just send me your address! I'll be sending another mailing out soon.


On another note... today marks FOUR MONTHS until we leave for NY for orientation. This is so exciting.