rebelling against low expectations

One dress. 100 days. For orphans.

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Health issues have kept our friend Elaini from India, but not from doing everything she can to help the children she loves. For 100 days she is wearing ONE dress (and borrowed accessories) to raise $50,000 for Warm Blankets’ orphan homes.

Today is Day 91 — just nine days left! For the last three months, Elaini has posted daily photos and updates on her blog — raising over $16,000. That is enough for three orphan homes, plus education and tens of thousands of meals.

But Elaini is not giving up her dream to reach $50,000, and she shouldn’t. With God, anything is possible. If just 3,000 people give $10 by texting ORPHAN to 52000, she will meet her goal. If just 1,000 people give $35, she will exceed it.

We love Elaini’s project — the heart, the creativity, and the determination to make a difference despite her health obstacles. We love the cause — helping churches provide a home, shelter, food, education, and the gospel to orphans.

What does it cost us to give $5 or $10? Relatively little. But for an orphan, that is the difference between health or hunger. What does it take to share a video? A minute. But that could be the difference between a home or homelessness.

At today’s conference, all the refreshments proceeds will go to Elaini’s project. Will you join us? Even $5 will feed one orphan for a month. Then… Spread the word. Help us by sharing the video on Facebook, Twitter, and around the web.

Let’s see what God can do in less than 10 days.


+ Donate Online / The Blog / Elaini’s Story +


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About the author

Alex and Brett Harris

are the co-founders of TheRebelution.com and co-authors of Do Hard Things and Start Here. They have a passion for God and for their generation. Their personal interests include politics, filmmaking, music, and basketball. They are both graduates of Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia.

57 comments

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  • This is so cool that you guys are featuring this on your website, and at your conference! I have followed her project from the beginning and am so encouraged at her leap of faith. She wouldn’t let health issues stop her from doing something. I pray that God works in peoples hearts to bring about the goal in 9 days…we can do anything in Christ who strengthens us!

  • My heart is so warmed by this fundraisor! May God bless you and your ambitions. I have shared with many……..

  • I’m hoping so bad that she will reach her goal! I’m sharing the video around. It’s so wonderful that you guys are teaming up with her!

  • Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m definitely going to post this on my blog and will email it around as well! God bless her and and prosper her cause!

  • This is really cool! Thanks for sharing! Oh, before I forget, I have heard from a couple sources that you are recording this tour and making it into a DVD. Is this information correct? I was a volunteer at the Winter Park conference and really enjoyed it. God has used you guys in awesome ways!
    In Christ,
    ~Madeline~

  • What a great idea! I love her fashion pictures and what she is doing with them! I really hope that she is able to reach her goal. God bless,
    ~Emily

  • Awesome idea! BTW, wasn’t there Rebelution conference thing you guys were planning at the Billy Graham center in North Carolina? Are you still doing that?

  • Catherine: Yes, there was a conference planned for the Billy Graham Center. We had to postpone it because of our mother’s death and the ongoing need to focus on our family. We’ll let you guys know when it is relaunched! =)

  • Madeline Thanks for the question. I’m afraid that’s just a rumor. We’re not making this year into a DVD — but we hope to make audio recordings available. =)

  • Wow, I’d never heard of this kind of a fundraiser, pretty cool though! Really unique.

    Thanks for putting out the modesty survey, even though I heard about it after they completed taking responses, I still like it. I visit every couple of days and look at the results/text responses. I have been as modest as I can, I can’t believe some girls would wear certain things. I have always tried to dress to encourage my Christian brothers toward purity…..but it’s kind of hard since they don’t notice me, only the ‘sexy’ girls.

    Katie Joy

  • Darn it. Oh well. I thought it would be a great thing to have since this is your last tour. The conference was AMAZING! Oh, and congradulations Brett! (Forgive me if it is misspelled!) 🙂

  • Thanks for posting this! I was not aware of it, I hope that she reaches her goal!
    Also, do you think that there is any way that you guys could do a tour ‘down under’? I’ve read both your books and one of your brothers, they really helped me, (and still are!) It would wonderful if you were able to visit Australia.

  • Love her project!
    Not sure if any if you have heard of Christian MSU football player, Kirk Cousins. He recently gave a great speech(both academically and spiritually) for Big Ten and got a standing ovation.
    It’s encouraging for me to watch people like Elaini, Kirk, Alex & Brett, and others use the platform they’ve been given to glorify the Lord!

    Brett: Congradutaltions! So excited for you! I’m patiently waiting for a post with the details…no rush =)

  • This is a great idea. Going to email it to my friends. Thanks for posting it.

    I have a question if anyone feels they could give me some sound advice on it. I gave the Rebelution book to my pastor to read because I think the message is so… well I could but quite a few words in. I forget which one I said to my pastor. I’ve had the book for about a year and I gave it to him in July. So I’ve been doing small hard things not having any idea like Elaini about a big hard thing. My pastor read the book in a week and then asked me if I’d like to be the missions coordinator for our church! Yikes!

    Anyway, my question is complicated. I don’t know what other adults in the church will/would think. I’m nervous. I feel like could I add more to my schedule? Well I should be able to make some room for doing something for God! And then the big one. I don’t feel called to missions. Even though I don’t feel called to it should I do it and will I eventually feel called or will I feel that I’m doing something I should never have gotten into?

    What to do? I should decide by Monday. That’s when the meeting for our Missionary coming on missions week is. Any thoughts on what would be the right direction? Should I take this step and join the BIG in the rebelution? Or stay on the sidelines and let this one pass? When put that way it seems simple. Join. Then why am I hesitating?

    Any thoughts/opinions please tell me. Thank you.

  • I witnessed the last conference on August 6, 2011. It was my first time at anything specfically teen related!! This video was inspring because… it was one girl with one dress but she made it her own style/personality each and every day. As she is winding down to the 100th day rasing OVER 25,000 dollars shes, a true example about young adults doing big things and making changes!! I absolutly love Alex and Brett Harris!! 🙂 Thanks for bringing the LEADER out in me!! 🙂

  • Katie Joy,

    I and my fellow Christian brothers are truly blessed by girls like you. I regret that some of your guy friends don’t appreciate your efforts, but I certainly do and always take notice when a girl dresses modestly.

  • Dakota,

    Thanks so much…I never know if my efforts are worth it. I won’t stop being modest just because it sometimes feels worthless, but it is nice to know that guys DO appreciate it.

    Just curious, are you going to be at the Indy conference? I’d like to actually meet some of the people that share the same ideas and values that I do.

    Katie Joy, 14

  • Bravo! Thank you for showing us that we seriously have a lot here that we take for granted! I just came home from a missions trip to the Dominican Republic. When i went and saw the slums there it made me realize that God has put me in a amazing situation compared to those families. if you have never gone on a missions trip… i would def. encourage it!
    Jenna 16

  • Awww…the song totally goes with the video. You just made me want to make a world a better place! Loves to everyone out there, an may God Bless yooh!

  • so i was in teen living and everyone in my class said that they would try to get on here and blog about things. i really hope that they aren’t lying! i hope the world wasnt so bad. if it wasnt though there would really be no reason for people being on the earth. we’d all be up in heaven rejoicing jesus! well i guess im done blogging for no, so good luck and GOD BLESS YOOH!

  • Priscilla V. – Its amazing that your paster would invite you to do such a thing! Don’t worry about what others think about you – just Christ. I would suggest praying and talking to your parents and pastor about it! I know this is a little late, but let us know what you decided!

  • That is really neat! I have never seen something like this before. The outfits she came up with are really cute.

  • Hey Priscilla V.,
    I know you’ve probably already decided, but the best advice I can give you even though it seems kinda obvious is to pray and search the scriptures! Pray and ask God to answer the question for you! He will. Ask Him to show you what He wants you to do. Open your Bible and He will! When He does it’s almost like it’s in BOLD print! I hope this helps even if you have already decided. Good luck!!!

    If you want to read more on prayer check out walking-w-Jesus.blogspot.com

  • Thanks for posting this! Elaini, you are such an inspiration.. God is truly using you in an incredible way!!

    Let’s keep shining for HIM, like Elaini is!

  • Simply can’t wait until Saturday’s conference!! It’s a hard thing…waiting for something you’re excited for. 🙂 This is the first real conference I’ve ever been to, so I’m very excited to make the Rebelution my 1st!

    In Christ,

    Katie Joy 🙂

  • Conference is tomorrow! Thanks so much for coming to Indy, thankfully it’s only a 2-3 hour drive for me. So glad that I am fortunate enough to live ‘so close’. 🙂

    Katie Joy 🙂

  • It is such an inspiration to me to know that someone can raise thousands of dollars in 100 days with Christ’s help. To see you do that Elaini is amazing! I now know that i can keep striving to do hard things even if it’s something so small or big like helping orphans. Thanks for posting it! 😀

    Galatians 2:20

  • I have a small group leader in my church who is a personal freind of her’s. she has joined her in doing the same thing for a shorter amount of time, and her whole small group is joining in on fasting from different things each week to show suppport. It’s amazing how movements grow!

  • wow, this is really cool! If i had money, I would donate. I love how she’s managed to wear the same dress yet make it look so different each day, this is great!

  • I am not too impressed with this idea. Well, the idea is good, but a lot of these outfits seemed inappropiate and immodest. I think this makes it pointless if not harmful.

  • Meghan – In what ways are the outfits inappropriate and immodest? I think they are freaking adorable!! Great job, Elaini! (cute name, btw ;))

  • I LOVE this idea! Any idea how i could do something like this? By the way Meghan I agree with Eloise, if you are doing something this AWESOME then I wouldnt consider immodest. Elani can you send me an email? you to Eloise. Maybe we can all partner up for something world changing. Im trying to create a movement in my CHRISTIAN school. Any help????? 🙂

  • Did she make her goal??? I would rely like to do something, but Idk what… Any ideas??? Btw I loooooove ur guys’ book: Do Hard Things. I got for a stocking stuffer this yr 4 Christmas.

  • Hey fellow rebelutionaries!
    My friend and I have started a blog called Sticky Notes & Sharpies. We are using this blog to encourage and inspire girls to write encouraging sticky notes and hang them up around their school. we’ve done it and seen amazing results. Join us at http://stickynotessharpies.blogspot.com/

    We’d love to have you get involved and help Do Hard Things by changing the world one sticky note at a time
    Love,
    Sticky Notes & Sharpies

  • Me and my youth group have read your book and it was probably one of the best books I have ever read. I have only one question though…. I have two friends at school that dont believe in God but there not Atheist… they believe in the possibility though they just need proof. Do You guys have any helpful tips that I could push them toward believeing with out trying to force it onto them?

  • amitji , i sumhow like these cat and rats related posts , considering not a big fan of both … hahaha … never would u go thru these types of writtings if it was coming from sum other quarters !!! but for u i can do anything … i love the comic posts which i am sure will be reading more of such episodes … love u tons and tons and tons ..my birthday is coming up after urs on the 20th… hope i get well wishes from you … zahra

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rebelling against low expectations

The Rebelution is a teenage rebellion against low expectations—a worldwide campaign to reject apathy, embrace responsibility, and do hard things. Learn More →