The meeting with the VP of Advancement here went so well last Tuesday, I cannot tell you! We'll be raffling off a bottle of Burgundy wine (for the Burgundy region of Taize!) at our alumni weekend coming up; we are going to have the local wine place sponsor a wine tasting with French wine for 40 very wealthy folks, and we've got a commitment for a several thousand dollar gift coming in April!

As for the church, I'll write more later about how God has worked on my heart, (and the fact the pastor has yet to call me back about meeting, but that is another story), but at the committee meeting last night folks could not have been more supportive, not only of this trip but also of our program in general. It helped we had over 100 show up to a an event open to the public yesterday at lunch - many professors and such as well - so I think my stock continues to go up.

All in all, I still have dreams of not having enough money (can we say I thought I dealt with that issue in therapy??? ahh...another tale for another time) but now we are getting down to the real work of planning.

I had dinner with a student last night who shared that she is becoming more scared about this trip - what it will require of her. Reminded me that I need to tend to the fears of my students as well as their excitement.

And God holds all of this in mighty and powerful hands. May the Holy Spirit continue to move and groove, and may we get the ham donated for the luncheon!!! :-)

Thanks for the prayers, the hope, the encouragement. You all are a blessing.