Long overdue

Disclaimer/explanation: I wrote this post on my tablet, right before it went into a coma. Took til now to realize it had uploaded to the cloud and wasn't stuck in my device! More up-to-date information is being written, but in the mean time, here is what was new last month...

Okay so I've been promising an update for some time now, I think it's about time that I deliver!

Shortly before the Launch weekend in June,  we asked for prayer for finances and discernment. Immediately after being prayed over at our weekly church prayer night, we were able to connect with someone else attending the Launch to be a roommate and split the price of the lodging. Fully believing that there is no such thing as a coincidence,  we felt very strongly that God was telling us to move forward and watch so we did.

The weekend was remarkable. It provided Mairwen with much experience and acting instruction. We were able to gain a lot of knowledge about what is going to happen at SHINE. Mairwen once again excelled at cold reads (that means seeing the script for only a few minutes before performing it). We had a great time creating a fun product to advertise and Mairwen had an opportunity to get some more practice at her least favorite acting skill, improv!

God was working in our midst, as we hit it off wonderfully with our roommate, who lives outside Philadelphia, and told us that next time we should stay at her house Friday night and she would still split a hotel with us on Saturday. We have already made plans stay with her on the way up to the one day photo shoot in September.

AMTC is proving to truly be a family. The atmosphere at the launch was a mix between a professional clinic and a family reunion. The coaches had a wealth of knowledge and advice to impart and they did so in an astoundingly positive manner. The youngest participant was 6, and the oldest was almost sixty. Varying ethnicities and disabilities were represented and embraced.

As for Mairwen's personal experience, it took her most of the first day to loosen up and be herself, but she was game for everything they threw at her, she even jumped into a group improv, shortly after having a very challenging experience with the individual improv. I am astounded see her growing into this calling that God has placed on her life. We were able to connect with several other participants who live in the St afford/Fredericksburg area! In fact, we are working to organize a rehearsal event to allow them some practice in front of a real live audience before SHINE rolls around!

There is still much work to be done; online training, skills improvement, photo shoot. And we are still hoping to raise a significant portion of the lodging and additional fees for the remaining Launch weekend and for SHINE. God did bless us substantially this summer in a twofold way. Tim had the opportunity to go on temporary assignment as an interim engineering director at a hospital in New York state. In addition to giving him the opportunity to gain directorial experience, he is receiving a bonus for the assignment. This bonus more than reimburses for the money that we have already invested in AMTC activities, and goes a long way towards repairing the damage done by the financial attack we experienced. We believe that this was God's way of confirming for us that he is not intending for this journey to be a financial burden on us.

We are still hopeful that there are individuals out there who are interested and willing to support us financially in some way, or even businesses, however we stand confident that whatever the source he chooses to use god will provide the resources necessary for mary when to shine at SHINE!

In more recent news, both Mairwen and Hannah are participating in Frick and Frack's Art Is In camp this week. Friday night they will be performing in a musical titled, He's the One That I Want. Both of the girls have speaking parts and Mairwen will have her first vocal solo!

From Mairwen: All About Me and AMTC

     Hi, I'm Mairwen. I'm almost 11 and I just finished 5th grade. In my class there was a group of us that wrote and put on plays for our grade. That's when I realized that acting was not only to entertain an audience, but also for the actor to have fun and do something that they like to do.
     Here are some pretty flowers, just because:

      I first heard about AMTC on the radio when we were coming home from church and I thought that it would be cool to be in. Later that day my mom came to me and told me that if I wanted a chance to audition for AMTC that they were having one in Richmond that we could go. I told my mom that I did want to go so after school, (the audition was on a Monday) we drove down to Richmond for the audition.
     The day after the audition we got a callback saying that AMTC wanted me to come back because they liked my acting and thought that I should compete in a competition-like event called SHINE. SHINE is held in Orlando, FL and every year by AMTC; once in the summer, once in the winter. I am going to winter SHINE this December. The VIP's there judge you acting, singing, modeling, or stand up comedy. Many participants come home from SHINE with job offers or agents. That's what AMTC helps to prepares me for.
     I'm excited to be going to SHINE because I think God will help me to use my talent of acting to entertain other people and lead them to follow Him.

(Photo credit: Hans Braxmeier, isn't it pretty??)

Heading to LAUNCH?? (a.k.a. Funding Update #1)

I feel uncomfortable writing posts related to funding. A large part of this is my ongoing struggle with (against?) humility. Another factor is that I don't want you wonderful folks thinking that we see you only as potential contributors (that is absolutely, positively and undeniably NOT the case!). I also know that not everyone who is rooting for us has the ability to support this journey financially. And lastly, I don't wish for those of you have already contributed to feel as though we are pushing or nagging you to give more.

Where and how you pass on God's financial blessings in this world is, in fact, between you and God (see Matthew 6:3). But we believe that God IS calling at least SOME of you to support this adventure, and if we don't share our need, how will you know?

I'm saying all of that for my benefit, at least as much as for yours. I am attempting to be completely transparent about our need, without crossing into the realm of begging or bragging. I think that maybe I'm starting to get it.

SO... without further hemming and hawing, what I need to say is this. Mairwen has a LAUNCH weekend (read: intensive 2-day training session) available in mid-July and we have not yet reached a funding status that enables us to go. Train fare will run anywhere from $300 to $500* and lodging will be another $500-$600 (we haven't factored in incidentals at this point). AMTC holds these events outside NYC proper, which lowers the hotel rates considerably, but they are still substantial, as you can see.

*The decision to take the train vs. drive is based primarily on safety (and also, by the time we paid all the tolls when we drove to the VIP seminar, it really wasn't any cheaper!)

We are grateful to have received $100 in pledges into our GoFundMe campaign already, however that means that this LAUNCH trip is only about 10% funded at this point. The sooner we are able to make train reservations, the lower the fares will be. Please prayerfully click over to GoFundMe and donate a few dollars (or a lot of them, if you can!). Truthfully, every bit does help. And if you can donate a few dollars now, and a few more dollars later, that's appreciated, too. God WILL use and multiply whatever you give. And please share this opportunity with others. You know people that we don't. People that God wants to use for His purposes and His glory.

Obedience and Humility

This is not easy for me to write. It is humbling to the point of embarrassment, and in part because I realize that I should not have waited to the point of desperation to swallow my pride and admit this to myself.

We need your help.

Well, let me put it a slightly different way. We need GOD's help, and we believe God is calling us to open the doorway for Him to channel that help through you.

Mairwen attended her first "in person" AMTC training this past weekend and it was a wonderful experience. However, the travel and lodging expenses were eye-opening. God blessed us with a tax return sufficient to pay Mairwen's entire tuition, and we glorify Him for that.  After this weekend, we now realize that our remaining "collateral expenses" may easily equal that amount.

In the past two years, the Lord has brought our family up out of a severe financial crisis through His faithfulness and our obedience. We are still on the road to recovery. We do not believe that God would bring us as far as He has, only to take us back down into financial peril. We trust that He will provide, if only we will continue to obey His leading.

And we believe that He is leading us to reach out to our family, friends, and community to support Mairwen in her calling to SHINE for Him with the talents He has given her. For equipping and outreach is not just our family's responsibility, but the responsibility of all Believers. It was both selfish and foolish of us to think that God would expect or even allow us to travel this journey on our own.

Won't you please join us in being part of the marvelous plan He has to use Mairwen's gifts to bless the entertainment industry and spread His Word in a dark world??

Please visit http://www.gofundme.com/aka4go to contribute.

The First One About Mairwen and AMTC

Mairwen is a ten year old girl whom God has gifted with talents in acting and modeling. She has been called to use those talents to spread God's love in and through the entertainment industry!

To that end, Mairwen has entered The Bridge training program with Actors, Models and Talent for Christ. This program endeavors to equip Christians in media to be missionaries in their areas of gifting, while developing their talents, and imparting the professional skills they will need to survive and thrive (with God's blessing!) in their crafts.

The Bridge culminates with an event called SHINE! It is part conference, part performance, part networking. It is attended by highly influential VIPs of both mainstream AND Christian media, and many performers have jump started their careers there. Friends of ours attended several years ago and it was a life changing experience for them on multiple levels!

How Can I Help?

1. Pray for us. The pastors at our church frequently remind us that, "Everything begins with, ends with, and depends on God." Here are a few specific prayer points:
-For God to be glorified through Mairwen.
-For Mairwen's spiritual strength and growth.
-For family cohesion and strong relationships.
-For the growing and molding of Mairwen's talents.
-For financial and logistical provisions.
-For the doors and opportunities to open according to God's plan.

2. Logistics and networking. These are going to be vital for us! Here are a few ways to help us "get connected"
-Spread the word! Share this post with your friends!
-Do you live in the NYC area or know someone who does? We'll be making three or four trips to the city before SHINE and it would be great to have a friendly place to stay. And any tips on getting around would be great too... It's been a while since any of us have been there!!
-Do you have access to discounted air or train fare? We'll be doing quite a bit of traveling!
-Do you know anyone (Christian or not) in the media/entertainment industry who would be willing to be a resource for us? AMTC's resources are considerable, but we're of the opinion that more resources are better than less.

3. Contribute Financially
AMTC is an entirely unique program of tremendous value for the cost, but the cost is still... costly. And in addition to tuition there are travel and hotel costs, and occasional miscellaneous expenses as well. You can contribute at our Go Fund Me page. All funds received will be used to pay expenses directly relating to her participation in The Bridge and SHINE (lodging, travel, incidentals). Any unrelated or family activities that occur on any trips will be paid out of our family finances. Now you know =)

About Conduct
We ask that all comments made on this page be kept positive! Mairwen WILL be reading them (and she reads and approves my posts). If you have CONSTRUCTIVE criticisms, you may send them here.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this! We pray that Mairwen's journey will be an encouragement to you, and that her talents will be a lamp on a lampstand in a darkened world!