I answered the phone, bought tickets to send people to Haiti, replied to emails and made the daily entrees in the ledgers.
After I was finished with my regular office jobs I started sorting donations that have been accumulating on a large heap.
I know I am a missionary and I should be glad for the items people want to share with the less fortunate in this world, but it seems to me there is a line where common sense would say, if it is not good enough for me it is not good enough to ship to Haiti.
What am I to do with somebody's junk mail, dried grass clippings, dirty pop cans, filthy pill bottles that have hair sticking to them and coupons that expired a year and a-half ago?
With the help of God I was able to sing,
Every blessing you pour out, I will turn back to praise,
When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be your glorious name.
And I added,
When donations pile up Lord,
Still I will say, blessed be your glorious name.
You know, I think I have always had the same thought, "I don't want it or won't wear it, but they are desperate, so they'll take it." :) But after hearing similar frustrations from other missionary friends, and seeing this myself in stateside ministry . . . it probes to a deeper level . . . am I giving leftovers or my most dearest and best? And that question can be applied to more than ONE area of my life. (Read Crazy Love by Francis Chan for more on that! Good Book!)
ReplyDeleteEmma C.
Great post! I agree with you about the donation thing; as Christians we should give our BEST, not our leftovers!!
ReplyDeleteI like that extra phrase you added to the song :)
~Wanda
Love the phrase you added to the song :)
ReplyDeleteCheers for all the hard work you do sorting STUFF!
Sounds like you had quite the day. Never a dull moment, eh?! Glad you keep a song on your lips even though you were sorting through all kinds of not-so-pleasant things! Thanks for all the hard work you are doing, makes it easier on this end!
ReplyDelete