"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'"-- Acts 20:35.
My beautiful wife, Deysi, and I had the pleasure of visiting three of our Southern African churches at the end of October 2015. We traveled to South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. It was an exhausting but fulfilling trip. We were able to inspire these churches and were inspired ourselves. It was a mutual edification.
Before our return back to New York in December 2005, we had lived in South Africa and oversaw the Lord's work in these countries. For my wife, it was her first time going back in 10 years.
One of our main reasons for going was to meet and talk to some 20+ children who are beneficiaries of the New York church's poor contribution. The New York City Church of Christ offers financial assistance that covers their educational fees from primary school all the way to a college degree.
Most of these children come from broken homes, where the dads either left or had died. And with high unemployment rates, there's no way any of these kids could afford to attend school, without the generous giving of the New York City church. Public schools are not free in Africa.
So, it was refreshing to see and hear these kids and their parents share how grateful they were to the New York church. My wife and I were very moved by their heartfelt gratitude to the brothers and sisters in New York. Two of these kids are already in college. Thank you, New York.
Something else happened while I was in Zimbabwe. I went to a supermarket to get a bottled water. When I didn't find the one I was looking for, I decided to leave. On my way out, i bumped into this lady with an infectious smile...a smile and a demeanor that reminded me of a very special woman in my life: my late mom.
She came to buy some meat bones for dinner. In Africa, there's a price for everything. If you have money, you can buy the meat; if you don't, you can settle for the bones or the fat. She could only afford the bones, a few pieces. And, she was walking out without a shopping bag. "Hey mom," I said. "Did they not give you a shopping bag to put the bones?" "I don't have 10 cents for the bag," she answered, since plastic shopping bags are not free in most countries in Africa.
I asked her to come with me so that I could buy her a plastic bag. As we went back to the supermarket I asked her if she needed anything else. Suffice it to say that I did a little grocery shopping for "mom." As we went from aisle to aisle her sister joined us. And, we got a bunch of plastic shopping bags for future use!
I invited them out to church set for the following day. They both came. This picture was taken after church. The lady with the infectious smile is "mom."
So, as we celebrate the holidays, let's allow our gratitude to motivate us to give to others who are less fortunate than us. Let us remember the words our Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.
When you do that, you will experience a blessedness that defies any human comprehension. God has been good to the New York City Church of Christ. We are very blessed!
Shared from the New York City Church of Christ