For one day every year we each have an opportunity feel über special, completely loved, and get extremely spoiled by the people around us. It's a day where all the focus and attention is on you and is normally accompanied by tangible gifts as well. It's called a birthday and for me, this day was yesterday.
This birthday was undoubtedly one of the best birthdays I have ever had. Not because I was inundated with gifts, but because for the first time in my life I had the opportunity to publicly share a faith testimony with a number of people. As I prophesied in the previous post about the coming rain, here I stand writing this post exactly a month later with the rain pouring down. Project 177 has been a HUGE success and God has delivered on every part of His promise. In fact, He exceeded every one of my expectations.
There's a long and short version of this testimony as I realised last night while sharing it. Unfortunately, I was only able to share the short version because I became emotional while I was speaking (who would have thought?). The full version has to be heard to be fully appreciated - because it is that involved - so I will be uploading a video pretty soon that tells of God's goodness.
Today, though, I'd like to honour and thank very important people in my life that have helped me on this (almost) year-long journey, and induct them into my 'Hall of Fame'. I by no means intend to leave people out, so please forgive me if you feel I have done so.
Thank you always to my spiritual leaders who have always been there for guidance, encouragement and support: Pastors At and Nyretta Boshoff, Rhulani Garrine, and Yvette Schoeman.
A major shout out to the PROJECT 177 BLIKSKUD crew who were willing to become the least and become, for lack of a better word, beggars for me. You didn't mind how people would perceive you even though you knew you were going to come across thousands of opinionated people. You bore some of the worst rejection from strangers I have ever experienced. You supported me from beginning to end and most noble of all is that expected nothing in return. You are: Tharina Viljoen, Craig Jackson, Simon Menssink, Lisa-Marie Johnstone, Earl Grobbler, Cindi-Lee Johnstone, Refilwe Masopoga, Maiphephi Mamaribe, Ruan Lishman, Lizaan Human, Henry Human, Nomhle Masuku, Annelize Sherman, Christelle du Plessis, Carina Otto, Dale Hyland, Jessica Katane, and Marnus van Heerden.
To everyone who made financial contributions to the project - THANK YOU! We had aimed for around 1000 contributions and we barely got 100, yet still managed to raise R54 000. This just tells shows me how generous you people are. Thank you for every single contribution, from the least to the most. You are: David Holmes, Karlien Minnie, Lisa-Marie Johnstone, Alexia Johnstone, Lyndon Johnstone, Mduduzi and Lindiwe Hlongwana, Stefan and Christine Smit, Thato and Poloko Mohono, Ruan Lishman, Schalk and Sorien Vermeulen, Felix and Carin van Zyl, Jaco and Franli Meintjies, Henry Meyer, Golda Schultz, Tinyiko Siwele, Rache Oosthuizen, Pierre du Plessis, Henk Craig, Liezl Craig, Anieke Hooman, Talita Herbst, Cobus Linde, Benita Bollers, Ntokozo Nhlapo, Lesitsi Moremoholo, Bonginkosi Hlefana, Kirsty Adams, Zee Kumalinga, Lee-Anne Benjamin, Daniel Smit, Damiane van Reenen, Tshwane Rakaibe, Sarie Wiese, Marius and Adrie van Heerden, Thando Jama, Geraldine Murray, Laetitia le Roux, Theresia lessing, Morongoe Namane, Khangwane (surname), Shumi Madima, Linda Semela, Beverley Dickason, Thelma Hugo, Carolina Koornhof, Jaco Steyn, Magda Higgins, Johan Human, Lerato Mvasa, JP Knipe, Amanda Herbst, Janie Roos, Stephan Meyer, Lee- Anne Visser, Willie van Wyk, Robin Fernie, Dirk Snyders, Ntsatsi Phatedi, Kaygee Molapo, Rich Huang, E Grové, Martin and Rhoda Moeti, and 3 more unnamed individuals. Also thank you to the random individuals who made contributions on the road during our Blikskud campaign.
Last, but definitely not least, i want to make special mention of a couple of people. Niel Higgins for your constant support, advice and for helping me to get my auditions in to the NYFA. Morne Andrews for the video work on my audition tapes. Leanie Brynard (neé Baben) for the on call script read-through sessions and practices. Clinton Powell and Seth Winkler for shooting, editing, and helping me in getting the initial Project 177 video out. Sorien Vermeulen for all the ideas and readiness to use her skills and know-how in any way you could help me raise funds way before Project 177 was a concept. Shumi Madima for tirelessly getting the word out on Project 177 and eventually nabbing a press release. Christopher Coetzee for organising a massive R5000 discount on my flight ticket. Misha Joyce for helping me finish those 1800 flyers in a short amount of time. And finally, Lisa-Marie Johnstone for being a solid foundation throughout everything. No matter what needed to be done, however it needed to be done I always knew you had my back. All the energy and resources you sourced and directed to helping me is unthinkable. A lot of times it felt like you were more involved and working harder on this than I was and for that I thank you. It is so hard to believe that we only met about two/three months ago.
Look out for the video on my testimony and be encouraged to trust God in your own situation, whatever it may be. Believe me when I say that if God can work miracles for me, He can do it for anybody... including YOU! I pray that faith be stirred deep into your heart and that you know that whatever the mountain is, it will be removed in the name of Jesus.
Peace!
