Monday, March 28, 2011

Sounds great BUT....



I have a little problem.  My little problem seems to be the same problem a lot of others have.  $MONEY$  
Almost always, the person I am talking to about Rising Star Outreach, says, “I have always wanted to do something like that...” or 
“It would be a dream come true...” and they always conclude with 
“...”BUT I don’t have the money to go.”
The way I look at it- you will NEVER have enough money to go to India just sitting around waiting for you to book your trip.  This is something you MAKE happen.  If you have always dreamed of doing some kind of Humanitarian work in a different country DO IT!  Commit to doing it and make it happen, otherwise you’ll find excuses. Lets face it, life is hard sometimes and it’s really easy to avoid doing hard things.
I really want to go to India!  I have more reasons in my life telling me I CAN’T go right now, but I know I WANT TO GO.  
Last month I did the first step, I filled out a volunteer application.  That was easy, now comes the hard part.  
Where on earth do I get the money?  
You see, I am a stay-at-home-mom.  My paycheck comes in the form of sticky kisses, love notes, and bedtimes everyday.  I need to get creative.  
I heard Becky Douglas say something a long the lines of,  Rising Star Outreach expects a lot out of their volunteers and they don’t apologize for it; because what you give as a volunteer determines your experience.  
At that time, I was thinking of how I could talk my husband into giving me all my gifts for the next 10 years at once in the form of $cash$ so I could go to India. 
But, after Becky’s comment I realized I wanted to make this happen for ME and I WANT to pay my own way!  
So, back to the drawing board!  How does a stay-at-home-mom pay her way to India?  Well, I decided being SMART was a beginning.  My day in India will come, and  I’m going to be ready when it does!  
In the meantime, I went around my house and found all sorts of things I didn’t need.  I found myself saying, “Do I want ____ over India?  Thank goodness Costco is so great with returns!  I hate to say this, but I got more than $200 back from Christmas gifts gone wrong at Costco!  Another sore spot is that darn gym membership!  I like to think of myself as a gym rat, but I’m so NOT!  I don’t work out in the Winter!  I don’t even have the desire to exercise unless it’s at least 65 degrees outside.  So, why do I pay membership fees all year? Right there is another handful of $$ I’d rather give to India.  
My biggest ticket is using my talents.  I have an obsession with photography and videography.  I’m thinking I could do some projects for people and accept donations.  Maybe you could teach piano to a a bunch of students, paint portraits, tutor, give tours, lawn care, whatever it is you CAN do and volunteer your time doing it but let it be known you are working for donations toward India.
Maybe I won’t get to India this year, but WHAT IF  I won the Photocrati Grant I applied for and I receive $5000 to complete a Humanitarian Photography Project?  That would be using my talents and it would pay my way to the project I’ve titled “End Leprosy in India”
(it’s worth a try!)
My passport is current, my application is in...I’m ready.
Figure out what YOU have to offer and make your trip to India happen.  No more BUTS about it!
I like this blog a mother and daughter are starting  in their efforts to make it to India.
Let it be known you are going, you might be surprised by what takes place.
Share your experience, ideas, and thoughts with me!