The Real Story

For those of you who have not heard, our garage sale was a raving success. A lot of people are congratulating ME and MY efforts for the success. Here's the truth: I really didn't do ANYTHING. Some of you may think this is a humble exaggeration, but those who know me well can attest to the fact that I abhor any type of manual labor or organization. While I provided the garage for the garage sale, there are quite a few people who actually served to make it successful.

The Inspiration:

• Jennifer Long started Jacob's Ladder after the Malaria she contracted on a Honduras mission trip threatened her pregnancy months later. When she learned that children in Africa routinely die from Malaria, she committed herself to raising funds for Nothing But Nets for mosquito nets that would prevent many children from ever contracting the disease.
• Inspired by a book we were all reading about radical faith, friends decided we should sell things we don't need to benefit those who are less fortunate at a garage sale. I had nothing to do with the garage sale idea. Trust me. I decided to start a blog instead (you should read it sometime).
• I said something funny about a snowstorm to a mutual friend on facebook, which is how I met Jennifer. She reposted a link to her story, and I read the link when I was supposed to be washing dishes or something. I married the small group's garage sale idea with Jennifer's cause, thus avoiding trouble for neglecting the dishes . . . brilliant!

The Preparation:

• Our friends, the Reeds and the Smalls donated items to be sold. Their children sacrificially cleaned out their closets and toy bins, providing the best sellers.
• Our children made signs to sell lemonade and water while their parents, in a project organized by our friend Jimmy, did yardwork at a camp for underprivileged children. I watched cartoons with the kids while supervising the sign production. No, I am not making this up.
• My wife, Kim spent her week preparing the garage, organizing items and making me move stuff. I hid.
• Our friend Lisa drove all over the St. Louis metropolitan area searching desperately for tents in case it rained, though she was thwarted at every turn - later we would learn why.
• I made some copies to promote Nothing But Nets. This took four minutes.

The Precipitation:

• It rained; I had nothing to do with this. I promise.

The Perspiration:

• During the sale, Kim, her mom and Lisa rearranged the garage due to the rain. I moved cars.
• Our friend Kelly spent a lot of money on a couple of items.
• The Smalls came to help, and our daughters sold lemonade, water and pretzels. Mike and I made a bagel run; I made him drive. Ask people - it's true.
• I bagged some items, as long as they weren't too heavy, and counted money.

The Intervention:

• They say in warm weather, a well publicized two day garage sale can expect to make $500 . . . in a good economy. Our sale was one cold, rainy day. Few of the people who came read our publicity efforts, like two, yet the people came. A neighbor up the street reported five people at her sale, but we had at least fifty, probably more. The total? We were able to raise $1000 for Nothing But Nets: Jacob's Ladder. How? God only knows . . . .