Wedding for Kupenda!

Just three short months ago, my best friend, Patrick Blair, and I were blessed with a wonderful wedding (November 3rd) and what we hope to make a God-filled marriage. In fact, we were so excited about getting married that we couldn't wait longer than 4 months from the engagement to make it all happen! With all of the hectic arrangements we made, one decision was very easy. The very night he proposed, we knew we wanted to throw all of the registry rules out the window and invest in something that mattered.

Since Pat and I had both been involved in Kupenda in the past, finding another good use for the generosity of our friends and family was an easy choice. Using Pat's software engineering skills, we set up a wedding website (www.patandlauren.org) that asked our guests to consider giving to Kupenda instead of buying gifts from a formal registry. With the help of Cindy and her sister, J-Bird, we also included paper inserts in the invitations and had a small Kupenda table at the wedding reception itself.

The result was yet one more reminder of how God multiplies your blessings when you offer yourselves to Him. We received over $6,000 that we invested in Kupenda, which in turn paid the salary of a physical therapist for one year, as well as contributed to a special needs classroom!

While the thought of doing great things for the Kupenda children was more than enough of a motivator, the responses of our friends and family were equally as fulfilling. Not only did several people approach me saying that they wanted to use their wedding to give to others, but numerous people were touched by the amazing love and good works being done by Cindy, her family, and all those on board.

We will never miss the fact that we didn't get matching bath towels or a butter plate we would probably never use. Compared to those in Kupenda, how could we possibly be in need? Instead, what we got was the privilege of being caretakers of a gift that both enriched us, as well as fostered love in the lives of others. For that we are truly blessed.

Lauren and Pat Blair