Six months ago, I had a full time job. I owned a car that I bought with my own money. I paid rent, bought groceries, and went shopping for new clothes whenever I felt like it. I could even afford to overpay for coffee at the drive through for convenience sake. This may not sound like anything special to you, but for me, looking back, I can see that I was rich. Truth be told back then I didn’t realize how rich I was, I actually thought of myself as poor at the time.
If I ever was poor, I am now. Everything I own fits in a 70 liter backpack. I work hard every day, but never see a paycheck because I’m a volunteer. My basic needs are met only because generous friends and family support me financially. My savings account dwindles as I stretch to pay for nonessentials. The only piece of technology that I own is my iPod… And it was a gift. (Thank you again, Nora Cate and Julie! A million times thanks!) If I felt poor back home, you’d think that now I must feel really poor. Sleeping in other people’s homes, a guest at their tables, always a wanderer with few possessions to call my own. But the truth is that the complete opposite is true! I feel richer than ever.
First of all I feel rich because I’ve begun to encounter how people outside the U.S. live. In Moldova there are many individuals and families living in poverty. Yet even in their poverty they give, give, give. Every home we visit we are given gifts and shown hospitality. Whatever they can spare- a jug of honey, a bunch of grapes, a plate of cookies or a bowl full of fried fish. It’s humbling to receive these kinds of blessings from people that I know struggle to make ends meet. The experience leaves me feeling richer than I ever have.
And there is another reason I feel rich. This trip, though relatively inexpensive when you consider all that goes into it, has been the most costly endeavor I’ve ever embarked on besides my college education. I couldn’t even fathom coming up with $16,285 at the start of this all. And yet, here I am, less than two weeks away from my next fundraising deadline with only $150 to go! Yes, that’s right, I am this close to having raised $11,000. I am overwhelmed by the generosity and support of my loved ones at home. Eleven. Thousand. Dollars. Wow. This money has not only made me feel financially rich but it has physically out me in a place where I feel I am growing richer day by day- spiritually and personally.
God has been reminding me lately that everything is His. In 1 Chronicles 29 David is praising God as the people give their offerings for the new temple. In verse 14 he says “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able this to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.” I heard this preached on this past Sunday (second hand… that is, through a translator) and then at the prayer service last night the message was on Matthew 5, specifically how we can’t serve both God and money. It struck me that even here in this poor nation a warning against materialism is preached from the pulpit. I hope that I’ll remember the lessons I’m learning here when I return to the U.S. That everything belongs to God and no matter what the truth remains that I am richly blessed in Christ.
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After I reach this October 1 deadline, my next goal is to raise the remaining $5,285 by January 1. So while I am so close to this deadline I do have a ways to go. I am confident that God will provide because He has so far. I don’t think I could have made this happen by my own strength. I see God working in every donation. So thank you all so much who have donated or prayed. Please continue to ask God to move hearts to give and allow me to stay for the full 11 months.
