These jars are a blessing from God. Purchased with passion and hand-painted by little hands. They represent my home church’s love and support and God’s ultimate provision.
See, these jars are two of several like them that the elementary Sunday School teacher at my church bought after being inspired by the story of the widow and her two sons in 2 Kings 4: 1-7:
The Widow’s Oil
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
When this teacher, who also taught me as a child, heard about my mission trip, she jumped on board the ministry team with me. She has been working hard to help educate the kids and others in the church about the importance of missions. She has helped encourage me by having the kids and other church members make a love quilt for me. And then to top it off she gave these jars to the kids to paint and then use to fill with money for my mission trip. I was touched to discover that these kids are emptying their pockets into the jar, finding loose change around the house, and asking for donations from others around them to help support me in this ministry.
I’d like to let everyone know that I love my home church and their kindness, generosity, love and support. Even though I haven’t attended this church more than a handful of times over the last few years, they have joined me whole-heartedly in the World Race mission trip.
A big thanks to the elementary teachers and kids at the United Church!
