Fundraising efforts - #1 = Peru Silent Auction Event

The pictures you will see are as follows.

1. Setting up the chili
2. People getting ready to eat
3. Hannah, Rosalynn, and Leah give presentation
4. Ottawa Senator Items up for auction
5. Wonderful Picture by Nicole up for auction
6. The team preparing the meal
7. The team in the kitchen
8. Christopher and Hannah trying to figure out what to do.
9. The appetizers
10. The Desserts

Back on December 8th, 2007, the mission team held a Chili dinner and Silent auction. Lots of planning took place to make this happen. We were thankful for many donations of items for the auction.

• Cottages,
• Ottawa Senators tickets.
• Ottawa Senators Dean McAmmond shirt and stick
• Some quilts
• Some paintings
• A couple of dinners and breakfasts
• and much more.
  

We thank all those who donated.

The group began preparing the chili on the morning of December 8th. Lots of tears in the kitchen as onions were peeled. Lots of laughter as fun was had by all.

The fellowship hall was prepared and the auction items laid out and soon the guests began to arrive. People were met and invited to partake in delicious appetizers, punch, coffee and tea. Bidding continued on through the evening.

I (R0n) wanted a wonderful looking dinner for 4 at the Boutin's home, but I kept getting outbid by another congregational member. We finally made a deal. Our bid, combined with theirs, and we would go as two couples. Ha, what a way to work a silent auction! : )

Soon, everyone sat down for the dinner. We began with the Peru national anthem. Just so you know, it has about 7 verses. We only sang one (yes, in English). Then it was on to the dinner. Everyone chose the type of Chili wanted and everyone received a very small portion, along with one bun.

Some looked perplexed at the skimpy portion, but that was done on purpose. It was to show the guests that in Peru, most of the time, families and children do with one meal a day, and about those portions. Just a small visual that we will have to deal with as we go to Peru.

After I explained that, we brought out the rest of the chili and people ate more and were satisfied.

During the evening we had a presentation from some of our team on facts of Peru. Peter led us in some Spanish Lessons, as well as a description of the weeks events was told.

Dessert was served soon afterwards, and the silent auction closed.

So did the guessing of the babies contest. Three members of the team, Ken, Shawn and Ruth submitted baby pictures for us to guess. A couple of people actually got them correct. I was impressed.

All in all it was a great evening. A wonderful team building experience, and we raised over $8,000 in the evening. We thank all those who came out and helped make this evening a success.