Morning thought 1 Monday April 19th
Good morning.
This is the first morning thought I have presented since our Christmas
appeal so although it is now past Easter, I take the opportunity to say that in
spite of the Covid pandemic and lockdown almost 3000 Christmas shoeboxes was
sent to Romania. Most of the recipients had assumed that because of lockdown there
would be no Christmas shoeboxes in 2020 so Jersey’s generosity brought a huge
amount of joy.
In Mustard Seed we believe our humanitarian outreach is about more than
Christmas Shoeboxes. Again last year the Jersey public amazed us with their financial
generosity, helping our appeals for food, bread, medical needs and winter fuel.
As a result several hundred people have benefited by receiving bread
each week during the bitterest winter months. Over 60 households had heating
during the coldest months. Several people now have spectacles, one woman has
had surgery for cancer, another has received a hearing aid. So the generosity
from people in Jersey has made a real difference to those with no opportunities
in Romania.
I apologise if you’ve already heard me share this story. It made a real
impact on me. About 23 years ago at the very beginning of Mustard Seed Jersey I
received a thank you letter from Romania for a Christmas shoebox. As the girl
gave her address I wrote back and enclosed a $10 note. Weeks later I had a
reply that made me weep. She wrote “we thank you for your letter. The morning
it arrived we had no food in the house and we had no money. At breakfast time
we prayed and asked God to provide. Then your letter arrived. God provided and
we could eat”.
I gave thanks to God then that I was able to meet a need at just the
right time.
We give thanks to God today that through mustard seeds ongoing work we
are still able to help those who otherwise would not have the opportunity.