Within the last several years I have been blessed to travel around with friends and family. In several cases those friends and family blessed me when I had opportunities to travel outside not only the U.S. but also more importantly my comfort zone. When looking back on the most significant experiences in my life I come up with two that touch my heart in very similar ways, yet so differently from the others I remember. I have experienced so much in my short life but the time I spent in Haiti and Grenada sit with me every day.
Not many people can say that they have been to these particularly poverty-stricken countries and I'm guessing that fewer will say that they enjoyed their time and would definitely go back. Even though the purpose of my ventures there were strictly missions involved and my teams were there to serve the people of those countries, I came home blessed by what the countrymen gave to me.
Haiti is the 3rd poorest country in our world and Grenada the 99th. Those are sad positions to be in and yet when you are there you can't help but notice the children playing together in the streets completely oblivious to their bare feet and tattered clothes. Their appearance might have been revolting if they hadn't been smiling and having a genuinely good time. They have so little but that's normal for them so they don't know any different. They don't get to celebrate birthdays and Christmas the same way we do in the United States. Gifts are never expected and rarely received. Life is simply surviving the day any way possible.
Unfortunately more than a hundred other countries share this bleak reality. This year you and I have an opportunity to provide an enormous amount of joy in the life of a child in an impoverished country. Through World Hope International and your help, hundreds of thousands of kids around the world will receive a 1-gallon zip-lock bag of goodies for Christmas along with the message of Jesus Christ. This small token of love could be the first gift many of these children have ever received. Coming from personal experience, seeing the look on a child's face when they see that someone cares enough to give them anything, is heart-melting.
Indy Metro church has partnered with WHI to help provide as many Gift Paks as possible. We have already passed out almost 80 zip-lock bags to get members started. If you do not have one already all you need to do is fill a 1-gallon zip-lock bag of items suggested on the WHI webpage ( http://www.worldhope.org/hopeforchildren/giftpak.htm ) and bring it to IMC this Sunday before or after service or swing by the ministry center, at 405 Mass. Ave, during the week. Please remember to add $5.00 in the pak to help with shipping costs.
Again, the deadline to bring in your Gift Paks is THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH by 12:30p.m.
