My heart has always been to bless people. I just love seeing a need met, a desire fulfilled or a dream become a reality for someone. It's just brings so much joy to my heart and is the very thing that makes me come alive.

 

The #LiveitLOUD Formal Project, was birthed from something that happened in my own life 7yrs ago. At this time, in 2008, it was my time to graduate from highschool and have my Yr 12 Formal. It was the most exciting time, but also a very pressured period, as I felt the need to have the perfect dress, the right accessories & be totally glammed up... but that all comes at a big cost! 

 

Although I was extremely blessed when it came to my formal (my mum is an incredible woman & paid for so much!), it was too expensive to get my hair and make up done. God totally provided in so many ways in the lead up to my formal with: the perfect dress (at much cheaper cost than first found); a friend lending me her beautiful set jewellery (which I adored!) & to top it off, our family even being able to afford my Schoolies trip (which was epic!) but God still knew how much it meant to feel & look beautiful on the day. I was so blessed in so many ways growing up, but coming from a single parent family home, it at times, was hard.

 

God desires to not only meet our needs but also gives us the desires of our heart too (Psalm 37:4)! So Him being such a good, good Father and knowing my desire, He provided for me through a beautiful person (who actually was a few years above me in highschool),Tiff. At the time, Tiff had it on her heart to freely bless some girls who couldn’t afford to get their hair and makeup by doing it for them at her expense. And thankfully one of those girls was me! I was so grateful that she would take the time, the effort and make the sacrifice to come and bless me, that I wanted to one day do the same. Her caring for me at this time impacted my life so much I couldn't not give back in the same way down the track. So with that in mind; the launch of Anchor & Heart, & the #LiveitLOUD outreaches early this year, I knew that this November it was! 

 

So in the weeks prior to formal time, the search was on to find some beautiful girls, in our community, who were in the same or similar boat as me years ago. After taking the time to chat to some School Chappies and post on social media (the local community board), the response was huge!! God really opened my eyes to see that there are many people struggling in our community, especially around this time, but that we, together, can be a part of the answer. 

 

We had 2 huge days of doing hair & makeup for four beautiful girls: Maddy, Connie, Syenna & Jacinta! We not only were able to provide for them, but to our surprise, we ended up being able to bless: two mums, one Auntie and one friend by doing their hair & makeup on the day too!! My heart initially was to love on some amazing girls but God not only had them on his mind, but the families & friends too! The flow on effect from this project to so many involved was huge! God totally exceeded my expectations and made this project bigger and greater than I could have first imagined (Ephesians 3:20)!

 

I was in awe of how everything played out over the two days but also how everything came together prior. After I put the call out for people to help in different ways, there were so many who put up their hand and gave so much. I aimed to raise $100 for this project, but again, with God being so good, we raised a totally of $270! With this we were able to pay for the make-up & hair products + put on a spread of food to fill each of the girls & their families bellies. We not only had that, but a beautiful friend made individual gift packs for each girl and many wrote in letters of encouragement to remind the girls how valued, treasured and loved they are by us and by God. To top it off we even had a friend come to professionally photograph the girls and capture the event, while many others were praying (even from overseas!). 

 

I am in awe! 

 

Thankyou with all my heart to all who gave in anyway to make this dream a reality. A big shout out to the LiveitLoud Crew for this Project: Sami, Chev, Shelley, Janzey, Kate S, Catherine, Rachelle, Jenna, Hannah B, Talitha, Chris L & Jess L. I am so grateful for each one of you and could not have done this without you all!! 

 

This is just the beginning, all glory to God! 

 

Mads :) xo