Just running through the final items on my checklist for my trip to Togo in West Africa, and I have discovered that there is no money left on my Starbucks card. "What?! I haven't used it in so long, how could there be nothing left on it?!" Maybe that's why I haven't used it in so long - nothing on it. (duh!) But that's just one of the things I have made ready (or, in this case, decided not to make ready) for this trip to go to Togo. (to go to Togo - say it five times as fast as you can) But I wouldn't even be going if it weren't for many who sacrificed to send me. Money represents many things, and Billy Graham said it was one of the hardest things to give when compared to what we as believers are to give. We speak of time, talent, testimony and treasure. Treasure (our money), Dr. Graham said, represents the product of where we have spent our time, doing our work, and speaks to our "voice" in this world. He's right. The sweat of my coworkers brow at Lennox was in the money and snack food he gave me to go to Togo. The hard decisions of running many businesses and the looking after of my nieces and keeping up their home was in the check my sister and brother-in-law sent me to go to Togo. The words of encouragement from a girl that I attended youth group with 25 yrs ago was in her check for me to go to Togo. Many are those who have helped me to go to Togo, and they have entrusted me and others to be their hands and feet to represent Christ in building buildings that will give aid physically and spiritually to people far away. May we be faithful to God and His people and His resources.
The greatest, Jesus said, would be your servant. Jody, Samuel, Solomon & Emma are the greatest to me. They are so gracious to allow their husband and dad to be gone for a time in their lives that they won't get back. They, like all my supporters, are my heroes - giving up their needs, desires to help me. Whoa- very humbling.
O God, may I be faithful to You, like my family and friends, and be a servant to these people of Togo, as my family and friends have been to me. For I am just as needy spiritually as these people of Togo are physically. May You grant me favor with them, and peace to my family back here. You are a good God, and worthy of our praise and everything we have! May we give it these next two weeks!! Togo, West Africa - here we come.
