My name is Salvador Gallegos and I was an addict. My addiction may have prevented someone from hearing the Gospel. God gave me many chances to be apart of this great work He is doing around the world, but many times I chose to be selfish. My addictions made my choice, most of them prevented me from an eternal impact. I didn’t know I had this addiction until I joined the Race and my heart breaks when I think about how I could have helped reach the world like Amber. Amber is a 15 year old girl who sacrificed her own pleasures and desires and invested into Operations Christmas Shoe Box, which has impacted a kid’s life here in Preah Vihear, Cambodia. What if I gave up my addictions to buy a Shoe box with gifts? Who’s life would have been impacted? What if I came to Preah Vihear, Cambodia and the picture that was given to us was a picture of me? But because of my selfishness I will not know. My point here is, I had an addiction that has prevented me from being a part of God’s work around the world.
I had convinced myself many years that I needed the latest and the greatest technology. I have spent a big potion of my money on technology- technology that I have either given away, lost, or put on the self to collect dust. I allowed technology to become my identity. I wasn’t happy if I didn’t have the latest or the greatest. I supposedly had a heart for missions, but I gave pocket change to missions. When it came to giving to missions, I had that boggiest excuse, “ I don’t have enough money because I have bills to pay.” I never had enough money for missions but when it came to buying technology I always justified my purchased and borrowed money from Chase credit, Cabalas credit, Simply Mac credit, Kohls credit, etc. I think about how many lives my dollars could have saved if I was secure in who I was and really took in consideration the needs in the missions field.
“I work hard for my money, why should I give it way?” Those who give to missions are not giving their money away, they are investing into a human beings life. As I was evaluating why it was hard to give my money to missions and why I gave my bare minimum-the struggle was not seeing the harvest of my giving which lead to the thoughts of, “is my giving really impacting someones life”? I had those thought “Would they even know the differences if I gave or not?’ Yes! It makes a differences! I never though it would, until I have walked in the shoes of those who raise support to do full-time missions
Now that I have been raising money to continue the World Race, there has been many people who have given generously, and I really do appreciate it!. There were many who helped make tamales, who donated tents, sleeping equipments, hygiene, money, and time. Sharing this experiences has changed my perspective on supporting and giving to missions faithfully.. I have seen the fruits of those who have given to organizations such as “Operations Christmas Shoe Box, Convoy of Hope and BGMC . I want to make a differences on and off the missions field!
My addiction is no longer. My whole perspective on giving to missions has changed. I wish this happened before I joined the World Race, but I am here sharing with you that your giving is makes a difference. I learned that I can live with the bare minimum and live satisfied. Don’t miss the opportunity to invest in someone’s life. You might not see the fruit but God sees the fruit produced by your giving. Don’t allow your addictions prevent you from impacting a persons life.
