3 Wednesday October 6
Good morning
Over the last 25
years when I have been going to Eastern Europe to distribute relief aid with
Mustard Seed Jersey I have come across many unexpected needs.
One of the most
rewarding aspects of these trips is being able to use donated money to make a real
difference. At times it can be very hard not to give away more than we have
because I feel overwhelmed by the needs I see. That is when I have found my
prayer relationship with the Lord to be so helpful and as I reflect on how to
respond to a need I find he will give me a sense of peace as to what is the
right decision.
If you have picked
up a copy of our Christmas Shoebox leaflet or seen it online, you will notice
that there are a number of things you could donate money to if you so wish
including the category of where most needed. Because we often met unexpected
needs we started making available some compassion money (that’s what I called
that fund at first) so we could use it to meet the unexpected needs while in
the country. Sometimes that money may be
used to buy food for a family or waterproof shoes other times it may be used to
provide a much needed repair or to purchase a solar panel to provide lighting
or some form of heating or to meet another urgent unexpected need.
I know that in doing
morning thought in the past I have quoted the serenity prayer but it is just so
true and profound and so applicable to our work. So I close with it again
today.
Lord grant me the
serenity to accept those things we cannot change; courage to change those things
we can change and divine wisdom to know the difference. Amen.