What Did You Do This Weekend?

I worked on a campaign this weekend asking and encouraging those who hadn't voted yet to cast their ballot and to do so for candidates Herrara (that is her in the center of the picture) for Congress and Rossi for Senate. You may recognize the latter name as he made national news two years ago for Washington State recounts for Governor. He won so they called for a recount and he "lost" by 124 votes.  This time around he is running for a Senate seat currently occupied by the 4th ranked Senator, Patty Murray who has been in the Senate for 18 years. We think it is time for a change and, apparently, there is concern she may lose as President Obama has made two trips out here endorsing her. Both, of course, at taxpayers expense.I certainly hope you all remembered to vote and exercise your privilege and right to vote.  Perhaps, I am preaching to the choir, but I am told this election could be one of the most important ones in our lifetime. In an effort to make a difference in the results, I spent my weekend phonebanking and doorbelling, words that weren't even in my vocabulary 6 months ago!

Generation Joshua, an organization of HSLDA, Home School Legal Defense Association, sends out S.A.T.'s, Student Action Teams, during each election cycle to elections that are close and could use a little bit of a push to ensure success. We signed on to join, not knowing exactly where they would send us, but willing to at least go within our state or the northwest. Due to some complications with scheduling conflicts, we ended up not being able to stay the entire time which was a bummer. Normally, it would be an all expense paid time away right before the election day. In this case, October 28th to November 3rd.  We didn't arrive until Friday evening, the 29th and could only stay until the 31st.  Part of our expenses were covered only, but the time there was invaluable and exciting so well worth it.

Could you hang up on this smile?

We arrived at headquarters and began phonebanking right away after a brief introduction. The phones were much more high tech than we have used before.  You logged on with your very own number (that way they know if you are a slacker!). Then the numbers would come up for you and be dialed. You had a script that you followed, but once you got the hang of it, you just kind of winged it saying the right things, but in your own way.  If you got an answering machine, you left a message that was pre-recorded. We jumped right in, but only had 90 minutes until closing for that night. One girl won a prize for making 700 calls that day! We then went to our hotel, had a "debrief", played a game that was loads of fun, prayed and went to bed. Lights out at 11 PM and up again at 6 for Girls Devo, breakfast. another devotion, and travel time to arrive by nine at headquarters to phonebank again until noon.. I have to tell you that phonebanking is a thankless job for the most part. People hung up on us, cursed at us, or called us names.  It was almost a blessing to get the answering machine!  Just when you felt most discouraged, God always gave me someone who lifted my spirits or thanked me, telling me they were voting for my candidate or just were plain nice. We just had to keep reminding ourselves that we were doing this not for ourselves and not to bring glory to ourselves, but for the candidate and in all circumstances to bring God glory. This sacrifice we were making with our time and the abuse we receive was nothing in comparison to His sacrifice for us.

The double fisted phonebankers

We phonebanked all day except for a brief interlude of doorbelling in the rain. We broke up into teams of two and knocked on over 200 houses.  These were supposed to be houses of those who had not turned in their ballots yet. For the most part, no one was home or they didn't answer the door. Some had all ready voted, some didn't like our candidate, and some thanked us very much. The latter encouraged us greatly. We ended the time at Starbucks!

Back at headquarters, we phonebanked more except for brief respites of eating meals generously provided by the Republican Women's Club or other organizations sympathetic to our cause.  We had an incentive from 7-8 to win Rossi T-shirts so I advanced to using two phones at once in an attempt to win. I didn't but the guy who did made over 190 calls, second place 120.  Our goal for the day was 12,000 and at the end of the day, we had reached 13,9632!!! This number was responsible for one third of the total calls made in our state that day! We were amazed, but on Monday when we weren't there, they made over 19,000 phone calls in one 12 hour period!

It was an amazing time and although we didn't get to stay for the end and the results, I will always remember the camaraderie of this time with the team, the focused energy of the group working together for a common goal. To see these teens, the next generation, working for their future, was simply amazing.  Perhaps they were there for such a  time as this.

We are home now, getting ready to to watch the results and have an election party of our own. Still praying for those still at headquarters and those across the nation, exhausted and emotionally spent. I  keep remembering this quote, (often attributed to Edmund Burke although apparently there is some controversy as it is not found in any of his writings.)

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  

We are praying and working that evil does not triumph this election season, but we are also resting in God's sovereignty, resting in the knowledge that He is in control and knows our future.