“for they all put in our of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty,
put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:44
put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:44
Generosity and giving has taken on a brand new meaning to our team this
month; it’s been so humbling. Last month
in Kenya a squad mate from the N squad of the Race told me about a church that
had given a love offering to her team that just completely floored them, and I
thought to myself how could I respond if it happened to us? Yep, the church did it for us also; AFTER
they took up the original one. We were
so humbled. These people literally have
nothing compared to us where we stay and they gave us money which they needed
more than us to bless us.
month; it’s been so humbling. Last month
in Kenya a squad mate from the N squad of the Race told me about a church that
had given a love offering to her team that just completely floored them, and I
thought to myself how could I respond if it happened to us? Yep, the church did it for us also; AFTER
they took up the original one. We were
so humbled. These people literally have
nothing compared to us where we stay and they gave us money which they needed
more than us to bless us.
If you have
been able to see where we have been the last month you would have not been able
to help but be moved. I was so humbled
and thought, “This just isn’t right.” But the Lord said, “No, it is, see what love is.” Love is giving without expected return. Love is sacrificial even if it means
everything. So our team received an
amount of money that to us wasn’t huge but to them IS a huge sacrifice. Our team has was so surprised by the love and
generosity that was shown to us and was speechless. We in some way thought about giving back to
them in some way with it like Bibles, but if they specifically gave it to us to
bless us then we shouldn’t, but one of the most, if not the most humbling
moments on the Race.
been able to see where we have been the last month you would have not been able
to help but be moved. I was so humbled
and thought, “This just isn’t right.” But the Lord said, “No, it is, see what love is.” Love is giving without expected return. Love is sacrificial even if it means
everything. So our team received an
amount of money that to us wasn’t huge but to them IS a huge sacrifice. Our team has was so surprised by the love and
generosity that was shown to us and was speechless. We in some way thought about giving back to
them in some way with it like Bibles, but if they specifically gave it to us to
bless us then we shouldn’t, but one of the most, if not the most humbling
moments on the Race.
Then as some squad-mates and I were walking to the internet cafe back on
Tuesday, I introduced them to Charlie who was on one of my recent blogs about
having no hands and no feet. I mean,
think how different your life would be if you were in Charlie’s position of
being born that way; everything would be different and what we can take for
granted in life. Some of us dance around
thinking it’s all about us, life is a gift. And one of the squad-mates who hadn’t stayed in Mwanza all month met
Charlie for the first time, and it moved her so much that she sacrificed the
money she would have used to go on a safari and has decided to give a very
large portion of that money to him. We
don’t know what he’ll do with it and never will know, but that’s never the
point. The point is when God gives you a
sudden thought about showing love like Jesus, you do it. So today we blessed Charlie in a great way
but I hope more than anything he’ll see Jesus in us more as he is a believer. And as Joseph told him in Swahili what we were doing, tears came to his eyes and he couldn’t stop saying “thank you” in shock!
Tuesday, I introduced them to Charlie who was on one of my recent blogs about
having no hands and no feet. I mean,
think how different your life would be if you were in Charlie’s position of
being born that way; everything would be different and what we can take for
granted in life. Some of us dance around
thinking it’s all about us, life is a gift. And one of the squad-mates who hadn’t stayed in Mwanza all month met
Charlie for the first time, and it moved her so much that she sacrificed the
money she would have used to go on a safari and has decided to give a very
large portion of that money to him. We
don’t know what he’ll do with it and never will know, but that’s never the
point. The point is when God gives you a
sudden thought about showing love like Jesus, you do it. So today we blessed Charlie in a great way
but I hope more than anything he’ll see Jesus in us more as he is a believer. And as Joseph told him in Swahili what we were doing, tears came to his eyes and he couldn’t stop saying “thank you” in shock!
Just like the widow in the Gospels, she had nothing at all really exceptvery little. And she could have easily
rationalized excuses about not giving, but her heart for the God she believed
in was all that mattered to her. Not
only was she a widow, but she was poor (a double negative), and gave ALL she
had just in bold faith trusting God to provide the daily needs for the next
day. It wasn’t the size of offering as
Jesus said, but the faith and sacrifice she made.
I’ve wondered in my own life if there’s a limit I’ve put on generosity,
or love for that matter. That as many
people have come to Christ this past month and I ask them if they’re really
willing to give all to Jesus; is this not a challenge I may still have? I’ve been so overwhelmed with the giving of
love a sacrifice from these people of God. That they don’t consider themselves more than others, and in return trust
God that He will take of them.
or love for that matter. That as many
people have come to Christ this past month and I ask them if they’re really
willing to give all to Jesus; is this not a challenge I may still have? I’ve been so overwhelmed with the giving of
love a sacrifice from these people of God. That they don’t consider themselves more than others, and in return trust
God that He will take of them.
Haircut for
Jesus
Jesus
Back on Monday as I walked with my translator I saw a small concrete
blue shack and a young man named Rajabu who was cutting hair. I really needed a haircut in this hot weather
and I stepped in and scheduled an appointment for my first ever haircut in
Africa. The next day I followed up as I
promised and became the first ever white person to have a haircut in the
village; now talk about that record breaker.
I had every intention to use that time to share Jesus with this man
while he worked on my hair; what better time than getting a haircut. So for a while, with a crowded one room place
with many African people watching this Muzungu (white person) I shared the
gospel with him. He believed in God, but
didn’t know much about Christ but that he may go to heaven if he confessed his
sins. So I shared him the Good
News.
blue shack and a young man named Rajabu who was cutting hair. I really needed a haircut in this hot weather
and I stepped in and scheduled an appointment for my first ever haircut in
Africa. The next day I followed up as I
promised and became the first ever white person to have a haircut in the
village; now talk about that record breaker.
I had every intention to use that time to share Jesus with this man
while he worked on my hair; what better time than getting a haircut. So for a while, with a crowded one room place
with many African people watching this Muzungu (white person) I shared the
gospel with him. He believed in God, but
didn’t know much about Christ but that he may go to heaven if he confessed his
sins. So I shared him the Good
News.
On Tuesday he didn’t believe but I
could tell God was really working on his heart. He wanted a photo of me so I took one of us and went out to get it
developed immediately before the last day at the village. The next day I went back and saw him, excited
to see each other again I gave him his photo and then followed up about our
talk about Christ. He said it was really
Good News he shared and eventually this man came to know Christ as his Lord and
Savior on our last day in the village. I
gave him a new Bible in Swahili, encouraged him, and he told me he would always
remember me and if I came back that I would always be welcome to his
place. As I believe, reach a man who
cuts hair for a village then you can reach the village! Who knew that a haircut is such a great tool
for Jesus when you’re in the chair!
could tell God was really working on his heart. He wanted a photo of me so I took one of us and went out to get it
developed immediately before the last day at the village. The next day I went back and saw him, excited
to see each other again I gave him his photo and then followed up about our
talk about Christ. He said it was really
Good News he shared and eventually this man came to know Christ as his Lord and
Savior on our last day in the village. I
gave him a new Bible in Swahili, encouraged him, and he told me he would always
remember me and if I came back that I would always be welcome to his
place. As I believe, reach a man who
cuts hair for a village then you can reach the village! Who knew that a haircut is such a great tool
for Jesus when you’re in the chair!
We leave tomorrow for Uganda for a few short weeks and our team will be by ourselves in Lira, Uganda for ministry for two weeks and then to Kumpala, the capital, for a week to do a youth conference before Ireland.
“If a poor man is a great lover of music, he gives his last dollar to
listen to a concert. He is then without
money, but he does not feel frustrated. He has heard beautiful things.” Richard Wurmbrand
listen to a concert. He is then without
money, but he does not feel frustrated. He has heard beautiful things.” Richard Wurmbrand
