On Sunday I visited New Life Baptist Church for a fundraiser spaghetti dinner for me. I was very excited about it. While the women's ministry provided the main course food,while me and my family made several desserts. I made a jello! lol
When I arrived, I was greeted and welcomed by several members and the pastor. The service began normally and I enjoyed the music an the speakers. When the pastor asked me to come to the front and say a few words, I was so nervous! I hadn't been able to 'officially' prepare a speech because I wasn't sure what to say. And we all know me - sometimes I can be pretty blunt and just say what I'm thinking, which often comes out wrong or misunderstood.
When I went to the front, the words just started to flow. I spoke of how my cancer journey started 17 years ago and how I came through it with gratitude and a sense of charity toward others. I don't want to seem like I'm bragging or full of myself, but I spoke of how it is hard for me usually being the one who normally gives and helps others - and now I'm the one receiving the help and charity. It's and odd experience for me, and sometimes I don't know how to humbly accept help and properly show my own gratitude. I remembered my friend's, Miss V, quote about letting people be a blessing for you, and have kept that with me during this whole experience. I wrapped up my 'speech' by thanking the church for their awesome service for the day and asking them to always be hospitable. The service continued and we wrapped things up with a message and a few mores songs.
Now it was time for the food! There was a long row of pans of spaghetti, lasagna, pasta salads and breads. It was all delicious! I was a week past chemo, so I wasn't feeling so great, but I was able to try a little bit of everything. I even had some of the desserts!
The dinner was by donation, so periodically one of the ladies would bring me the cash collected in the bins. I was amazed at how much she was bringing me - an it kept growing. I never expected so much generosity from everyone and was actually growing speechless. At the same time, many people are leaving and are saying goo-bye an thanking me for coming. As we began to clean up and wrap up, the women came to me with one last donation, which completely blew me out of the water! By the end of the day, I was so overwhelmed by everyone's donations, of both their money an their time. I'm sending out a thank you note this week, but it somehow doesn't seem like enough.
A huge thank you to New Life Baptist Church and for their awesome congregation!
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