Robby Takes one for the Kingdom

Robby Burn's auctioned off the rights to cut his hair for the Maasai Night Silent Auction.
The winning bid... $300. Robby's heading to Mexico this Summer on our IMPACT trip, and his teammates pooled together their money.
THEY WERE MERCILESS!!!
Robby took a hit for the cause of the Kingdom. For this, I'm proud of him.

By the way, the students have raised over $14,000 for the Maasai Project to date. Unbelievable!!!

A Note from the Biz-man

Got this e-mail this morning from Caleb.







Derry,

Maasai night at NMC is going down in the Bislow History books as one of my top most-blessed-days. God totally used you and NMC to prove to me that if He is behind something that he will make away. I was honestly planning on taking a big chunk out our support account to make this endeavor happend if our funds fell short, but it appears God has made a way. Thanks for being God's answered prayer.

The watches were intersting taking back home. They made my sending bag to heavy so I carried them on as a carry-on. Security had to thumb through them all and said that I set the record for the most watches they had seen- another praise for the Bislow History books. They ticked and beeped all the way home but we made
it w/o any problems.

I look forward to showcasing your event in the March/April-BizLowDown Newsletter.

Pressing On,

Biz
www.kbm.org
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again... This guy is the real deal. If you haven't ever, go check out his website, and listen to one of his messages; or check out the videos from his '05 trip to Africa.

Now that we're winding down from Maasai Night, and finishing up the Silent Auction (you can still bid; go here), we place our attention on having around the clock prayer teams for his upcoming February 14-27 trip. If interested in signing up for a time slot, the calendar will be up at NMC on Sundays and Wednesdays leading into the trip, or you can e-mail me and I'll be glad to hook you up with a time.

Words to Describe tonight

Awesome.
Challenging.
Beyond Expectations.
Powerful.
Empowering.
Fulfilling.
Exhausted.
Alive.
Renewed Visions.

I am so blessed every time I'm around Caleb Bislow. I'm also just so pumped to watch the students who put in the efforts to see the end product, and know it's something worthy to present to the King and his Kingdom!

Pictures likely available tomorrow!

Important announcement on the Auction

An important announcement concerning the Maasai Night Silent auction was made today.
Check it out here

Good v. God?

Sunday Morning, I threw out my little saying, "We must learn to say no to the good things in order to say yes to the God things."

Here's some students who are teaching me right now.

Robby has been growing his hair out for over a year now. It's gotten to be quite the thing of noteriety. It's kind of what he's known for. He plays soccer, and we all know that long hair is a great thing to have as a soccer player. Sure, it's just hair, but it's a pretty sweet thing to take a year to grow your hair out. He didn't really want to cut it.
He's decided that raising money for the Maasai tribe (God, yes) is more important than his image (good, no). He's auctioning off the rights to cut his hair. The highest bid is currently at $125. You should go bid more right now!

Andrew (pictured with the knitted items)has been doing a ton of work on the side of coordinating our Auction. We had all the stuff collected, but needed to organize, categorize, and set up the stuff for on-site and the web. Andrew came in at 10:00 am to the church on Saturday. He left at 9:30 pm that night. He said no to his normal Saturday Night (good thing) to say yes to going the extra mile to see Maasai Night happen (God thing).

There's another student who I won't name right now. He's been in on the vision of Maasai night since the beginning, and his playing a significant role in various parts of the night. He called me this afternoon and told me that due to the snow day, his basketball game was cancelled. It's been rescheduled for tomorrow night. As he told me, I began to let him know that we can do what we can to get others to fulfill his role. He stopped me, and just said, "I'm going to have to call my coach and tell him I can't be at the game."
Whaaaa????
I let him know that I in no wanted him to feel obligated to be at Maasai Night. His response was, "I've invested two months of planning into this night. I can't miss this opportunity to invest in the kingdom because a basketball game."
I prayed with him for wisdom and clarity from God on what the right choice was for him. Do I think he should be here or at the game tomorrow night?
I don't know.
But I know that I was challenged in that moment by a student who was taking time to seek out which opportunity is the God thing, and which is the good.
Whatever he eventually decides, I know he has sought first the Kingdom.

Today, I'm challenged and humbled by the students I work with.

Maasai Night Silent Auction Instructions

We're currently having some technical glitches on the Maasai Night Auction Site.
There are approximately 20 more items that are being auctioned that still need to be displayed.
We will get those up as soon as possible.

Here are the auction rules:

Auction begins Sunday, January 28 and ends at 11:59 pm January 31.

Auction is done in "silent style", meaning you bid your amount not knowing what others are bidding. If your's is the highest bid, you win.
**In the case of a tie, item goes to whoever put the bid in the earliest.**

Online bids can be sent to maasainight@yahoo.com. In the e-mail please include
Item # and Name:
Bid amount:
Your Name:
Phone Number:
Address:

If you are the winner, you will be contacted before Sunday, February 4. Instructions on how to pay for and redeem your item will be given at that time.


You must be able to pick up your item at Nappanee Missionary Church if you plan to bid.

Good luck, and remember all proceeds go toward The Maasai Project, an effort to share the Gospel with the unreached Maasai Tribes of Africa... so bid ridiculously high amounts!!!

Maasai Night Promo Video

A couple of students in our Ministry put together a promo video for Maasai Night. It's the first video they've ever made. I put it up on Youtube.



If you feel so led, throw this up on your blog or myspace. Find it on youtube here.

More Auction Items

Here's some other Auction Items...

• A Junior girls group is auctioning of 6 tickets for Babysitting on Valentine's weekend.
  
• A mystery "Bath and Body Works" basket. The basket contains items from the store... you just don't know how much.
• Several 8x10 framed photos my super-hot wife has taken of sunrises and sunsets.
• Several ceramic bowl and cup sets created by our students.
• A 5x7 drawing of a Maasai girl drawn by one of our Freshman gals (it's a great drawing!)
• A Movie basket... everything you'll need for a great date night in.
• Various gift certificates to places like Target, Marriot, Cinemark.
• Scarves and winter caps knitted by our students.

Be sure to get on the auction site between January 28 and 31, and bid ridiculous amounts on these items. The Kingdom is worth it!!!!

Getting pretty excited

Tonight was the last night for donations for Maasai Night.

Just to review, our Senior High Students have been planning and putting together a night (Wednesday Night January 31) .to benefit The Maasai Project.

The Goal of the Night is 3-fold:
1. Raise Awareness about The Maasai Project.
2. Raise Prayer Support for the Maasai Project.
3. Raise Financial Support for the Maasai Project.

A big part of the Financial support is going to come through a Silent Auction we are having. Students have been asked to create or donate items that people can bid on. You can bid there or you can check out the blogspot we've set up, and bid via e-mail January 28-February 4.


Here's a small Selection of Items:

An authentic Maasai Spear purchased by Caleb Bislow on his 2005 trip to Africa.

Game Boy Advance and 2 games.



The Freshman Girls group that bought my hair I auctioned off (read story here and here) made the "hairy Derry tie"... that's right a tie with my golden frocks is being auctioned off... I say bidding starts at $50.


Speaking of hair, Robby Burns is auctioning off the rights for someone to cut his hair any style they would like. He will then wear it that style for one week. I LOVE IT!! That type of sacrifice is worthy of BIG BUCKS!


Guys, a perfect valentines gift for your lady.
Includes a $50 gift certificate to a day spa and various other pampering items.

A 2' x 3' canvas painting created by a Sophomore.


A Notre Dame T-shirt signed by
#76 Bob Morton
#9 Tom Zbikowski
#83 Jeff Samardzija
#3 Darius Walker
#10 Brady Quinn
(we have 2 of them)

There is also Celebrity Ovation Guitar, a Dallas Clark autographed football, a Brady Quinn Autographed jersey, a Bethel College Basketball signed by the entire 2006-07 guys team, and a ton of other really cool things.

Upcoming...

Some exciting and great things coming up...

...Next Sunday, January 28, I'm going to be bringing the message in the morning services again. "Yes, We're Open" is the series we're in. Looking at how we view our time. Excited, nervous, and honored at the same time.

... On Wednesday, Chris Lehane (Junior High Guy) will be bringing the message to the Senior High. We're in the midst of a series looking at what it truly means to be a "Christ Follower." Chris will be looking at the Jesus call to the Fisherman.

... I'm extremely proud of our Senior High Students. They're putting in a lot of work to see "Maasai Night" take place on January 31. Their goal is to raise awareness, finances and prayer support for The Maasai project (videos here). Doors open at 6:15. Talent show at 7:00 pm, and Caleb Bislow sharing at 8:00. $1 donation suggested at the door. There will be baked goods for sale, as well as a Silent Auction. Students are donating artwork and prized possessions to be auctioned. These items will be out on the 31st. The items will also be posted here next week.

... Two great trips coming this Summer; NYGO (New York Gospel Outreach) and Summer Camp. We're looking for NYGO team members right now, and Summer Camp info will be coming out mid-February.

All kinds of great opportunities to take part in the Kingdom of God.