Ministry here in Coleraine has looked very different for me almost everyday. I have done anything from office work, passing out flyers, helping in Sunday School, cleaning, gardening, working at youth events, and everything in between. But Friday morning I had the privilege to go to Sandelford – a school for children from kindergarten to high school with special needs.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I was going to school to teach Special Education. I know that working with children with special needs is a passion not everyone has, but one God is blessed me with. As we started, myself and a team of five others went to the middle school aged classrooms to give an assembly on generosity. Anyone who has worked with or been around kids in middle school knows it's an awkward age where they have the "too cool for school" attitude.
Well let me tell you, that was not the case in this school. The kids walked in with smiles ear to ear, waving and saying hello to each other and each one of us. They were truly happy to have us there, and were genuinely excited to see what we were going to talk about. Walking into the classroom, almost immediately I had a young girl come up, grab my hand and lead me to the edge of the room to tell me her name. Needless to say.. She instantly stole my heart.
Dave, the children's pastor at the church we are working with, started by handing one of us an apple, one an orange, one a tomato, another a Twix, and the last one had nothing. We went through talking about where each item came from, how you can plant the fruit with a seed and grow more, and then started talking about generosity. When Dave pointed out to the children that one of the girls had nothing to eat you could see their hearts truly break for her.
He then began asking us one by one if we would share. As we all said no, for various reasons, we watched the kids shake their heads in disappointment. They knew that wasn't right, and they were angry at the injustice. When Dave asked the last girl she offered the other piece of her Twix bar. The kids were so excited – laughing and clapping. A concept so simple, something that a kid can understand, yet in reality most adults seem to struggle with.
The demonstration was short and simple, yet carried a big message. Generosity. Something we have been taught from a young age, but do we really know what it means? Are we really living that out? I have to be honest – as Dave explained what we would be doing I almost laughed to myself thinking, "Come on! Everyone knows about this!", and I believe we do. But the real question is are our hearts burdened for those who do not receive generosity? Will we shake our heads when we see injustice? Will we stand together for each other?
Those children may have been labeled with special needs of different sorts, but the truth of the matter is they really have special gifts. They are gifted with innocence, with honesty, and with the basic idea of what's fair. As adults we go through life and all it's struggles and hard times and tend to lose sight of all of that. I was encouraged by my short time spent with them, and I pray this story helps encourage you as well. I challenge you to think not just about what you think generosity is, but what it truly looks like.
I have to say.. this journey up until now I have seen great amounts of generosity in my life, and am so blessed by it. Without the generosity of family, friends, and even complete strangers I would not be here today to share this story. This journey would not be possible for me if God did not burden the hearts of my supporters to share what blessings He has given them with me. My life is forever changed in the short two and a half months spent away from home so far doing God's work, and I want to say thank you to all of you for your prayers, words of encouragement, and financial support.
If God is placing on your heart to do more here's how you can help..
Pray for me as I continue this journey – that God continues to grow me, break me in order to build me up in His greatness, teach me more of who He is, and to spread His love the way He has intended. Also, please pray that God continues to provide financially for myself as well as many others on my squad as our next financial deadline is coming up October 1st.
Share my story with your family and friends. Maybe this story, or any of my other ones, don't touch you – but possibly someone you know needs this message God has asked me to share. By sending this in e-mails, sharing on Facebook, or whatever else my story may be able to reach people who need these reminders or messages.
Also, please prayerfully consider being a financial supporter. By your generosity you could be a part of something so much bigger – something that God is using me for to touch hundreds and even thousands of people who otherwise wouldn't hear of God and His good news. If I do not reach my deadline of $11,000 by the 1st my Race will be cut short, and I will be sent home. I have no doubt that this is where God wants me to be, and what God needs me to do. So, If you could help in anyway all you have to do is click the "Support Me" link on the left hand side of my blog.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! All my love,
Bri
