Go back with me about a month ago. I had NO idea what to do with my life and was just living day by day pretty much. It's amazing how fast a month can fly by and how much can change...
Before my trip to Arizona I met with the youth committee for Enterprise Mentors International to tell them about World Youth Programs and how we wanted to help Mentors. Through conversation I mentioned I didn't have a job and they noted they were looking for an Office Assistant. Perfect. I met with them the next week and started the next day. Yes! It was a temporary position to help with logistics and management for their annual gala that was coming up with the possibility of becoming permanent. Even if i weren't to stay I knew I was going to get some great experience. I was thrown into a whirlwind of registration, shematics, meetings, and trying to remember everyone's name. Goo. What a load. But I LOVED it!!! It was like I was back planning events at school and all the stress that was around me made me work even harder. Sigh. I had missed that.
The gala was November 7 and what a success the entire night turned out to be! It was held at the Grand America Hotel. The tables were decorated beautifully and the display tables for each country Mentors is currently in (Philippines, Peru, El Salvador, and Guatemala) had products from clients and their stories. Guests enjoyed a reception of sorts before the program and dinner began. Lloyd Newell, announcer of "Music and the Spoken Word", was the master of ceremonies. Former (well, kind of current) First Lady Laura Bush, Elder Marion D. Hanks, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir received various awards throughout the evening. The Choir was the featured entertainment and sounded absolutely lovely as always.
So many great things have come from the gala already. I met Elder L. Tom Perry, Elder Zwick, Sister Cook, and Sister Allred as well as numerous others. Mentors raised SO much money! Just from the night alone it was 5 times more than any year before plus all the pledges. Before the end of the year Mentors will have at least 10 times more donations come in than previous years. How wonderful!!! The best part is that all the costs for the event were covered by the Board of Directors so 100% of donations goes into helping pull families out of poverty. How could you not love that. Also... they offered me a full time position! YAY! I am so thrilled they wanted to keep me because I really, really wanted to stay. The people I work with are absolutely fantastic and the more I learn about microcredit and what Mentors is doing I could not imagine being anywhere else.
So yeah, things are really looking up now. I can't wait to see what my future with Mentors holds...
(If you are interested in learning more about Mentors please visit our website at www.enterprise-mentors.org. Also there are articles in the LDS Church News and Meridian Magazine about the November 7 gala.)
Table displays for El Salvador and Philippines
Nelda is Mentors Communication Coordinator and I absolutely love her!
Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing
My cute mom and I that night. Doesn't she look amazing?!?
