This morning at Church, (the last Sunday before we take off for Haiti), our Pastor asked the mission team to come to the front of the congregation to receive a blessing for our travels. Pastor Larry told the congregation of the reports of the mounting costs of diesel fuel and materials in short supply down in Haiti. The outpouring of generosity was amazing. I even had a good friend assign me a sizeable check with my assurance that 100% of his donation would be put straight to work in Haiti. I'm glad to do it.
This generosity is abounding. But I have to report nothing short of a miracle that happened the other day.
We put out a similar plea at our morning Men’s Bible Study to help cover the rising costs of essentials down at the mission. Before the words were out of my mouth, I had $80 dollars in my hand from this small group of men to put towards buying supplies while down there. Strike that…Make that $81 dollars.
About that extra dollar…….
At our men’s breakfast, to collect the donations, we passed around a glass bowl that once held sausage biscuits in it (no problem it was empty – What a surprise!). So the loud “clink” was audible when someone dropped in a Silver Dollar. I didn’t see who did it. The other guys on the mission team didn’t either. Bill and Paul thought they saw the one old guy at the end of the table subtly put it in. I won’t mention his name, but this guy lives way below the poverty line. He picks up aluminum cans for a living. Why is that so amazing? There is no doubt that could have been the only dollar he will see for a while.
That Silver Dollar is worth way more than a single buck. It represents the widow and her two coins.* The fact that it is entrusted to us is awe-inspiring. I carried it in my pocket all day. I don't think we will spend the dollar, but instead take turns carrying it as a symbol and reminder of the responsibility we hold as stewards of all those rooting us on back home.
Peace,
Andy
*Mark 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
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