Friday April 4^th MORNING THOUGHT

In Mustard Seed our motto is “Your help makes a difference”. In these morning thoughts I have tried to share with you some experiences that confirm that help from Jersey makes a real difference to the poorest of the poor in Romania, where Mustard Seed is working.

But this morning I want to share something completely different. I am sure people are familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan who helped a total stranger and saved his life. We have met some wonderful Good Samaritans in Romania but what is most impressive and challenging is that they have been in real need themselves.

Without doubt Aurelia the elderly pensioner would have starved to death without the help of the community of squatters who live nearby. On her husband’s death she had literally no income as his meagre pension died with him. The little community of squatters living nearby shared their food and firewood with her. Without that help her she would have died. These people had very little themselves but they were prepared to share what they had. Now Mustard Seed has arranged a sponsor to help Aurelia each month while Nelu the social worker works to obtain a widow’s pension for her – a lengthy process.

Another true Good Samaritan is Loti’s neighbour. When Mustard Seed purchased the little house and garden in a distant rural village we knew the next door neighbour was a kindly man. He and his wife were elderly and have a severely handicapped daughter who they look after 24 hours a day.

But when Loti’s needy family moved in, immediately the neighbour encouraged them, helped with employment, smoothed the way when other neighbours criticised the new family, always had a sweet or cake to give the children, he immediately let the Mustard Seed Romania social worker know if there was a problem.

Then after several months a crisis happened in Loti’s family and they ran away. Faithfully the neighbour fed their chickens out of his own store of animal feed, explaining that he was sure they would come back and he wanted them to have something to come back to. Sure enough 2 months later Loti and family came back to find they still have their chickens, looking very plump and laying good eggs; the neighbour even helped with buying milk and bread for them until Loti managed to find employment.

Loti’s neighbour has not got much, in fact he has very little, but he is willing to share what he has. I believe he really understood Jesus’ commandment to love God with your whole being and to love your neighbour as you would love yourself.

Can I ask you what kind of a neighbour are you to those you may meet today who are in any kind of need?

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