Childish Generosity

Hello there once again!!

(Side note: read this one all the way to the end, you won't wanna miss it -- and don't skip to the end, that's not cool either...)

I can probably describe the last three days in three phrases, and the majority of you could guess what's going on. Here, let's try:   kids who act like they're on a sugar high, adults who try to keep them under control, and everyone screaming (in a positive manner) about Jesus. If you guessed Vacation Bible School, congrats!! You're right! I've had the privilege of spending some quality time with the children of our church and teaching them about faith in Christ, and it's been amazing! But really, I think sometimes I learn more from the kids there than they learn from me.

These girls set up a lemonade stand
to help raise money for me!
It was a huge success!! 

I've been blessed with the opportunity to be the "missionary" for this year's VBS. However, I'm not sharing about it myself. I've been watching (dressed as a goofy news reporter, ha!) from the "sideline" as one of our characters, "Officer Usee Everywhere" (also known as my youth pastor), tells about the "missing" Emily Coral Holliday who is 'wanted' by Jesus, I've been able to observe from a different perspective. I've had the chance to see how the journey God has called me on has affected everyone around me - both adults and children. Don't get me wrong here, I don't favor either adults or children over the other, but being around so many kids this week has made me appreciate something special about them: their generosity.

Soldier Christian Church VBS

Over the 4 days of VBS, these kids have amazed me. They've come in with Ziploc bags chock full of change, money safety pinned to their shirts, and we even found a euro penny in the offering plate. These kids are scrounging up everything they have! It's just like the woman in Mark 12. "But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents." And what did Jesus have to say about it? "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others...she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on" Mark 12: 42-44 (NIV). The kids here in Soldier, Kansas, even though they probably don't realize it, are living out true generosity; they're a perfect example of what Paul tells the Corinthians, " Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have " 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NLT).

While being blown away by this picture over the last few days, I've also had to ask myself, what if I gave with that much abandon? What if the adults were as willing to give as their children? Or even, what if, instead of buying the newest "Christian" CD, t-shirt, or book, we decided to give that money to help people that God has beautifully and wonderfully made?

However, I'm not saying that adults aren't generous. In fact, that's why I wanted you to read all the way to the end (yep, almost there!!). I wanted to let you know that I've seen childish generosity, and I have proof of it. As I've decided to stay in Uganda more specifically until the end of April 2013, I've seen something awesome happen right before my eyes: I'm fully funded for my stay there! God is rich, and He's used His people to help me realize that. So, thank you all so much for your support, prayers, and donations; I am eternally grateful. Well my friends, I leave in 3 weeks; I'll continue updates as things progress. Stay childish!