Answered Prayers

June has been an awesome month. I know - I say that every month. What can I say? We have been blessed with tons of food to give out to needy kids, and hundreds of volunteers to give it out. Generous corporate sponsors keep donating warehouse space and trucking, not to mention manpower. Debra and I keep things together on the home front because I have a reliable job (a mixed blessing, but a blessing none the less). How could it get any better?

A few months ago I had a chat with the director of one of our supported missions. When the subject turned to school for the kids, he related that it was a real challenge, because although school is mandatory for kids in Mexico, the reality is that they can't attend unless they have uniforms, and many, if not most of the families he supports just can't afford to buy school uniforms. So the kids stay home or work in the fields - a tough reality. Of course, Hilarious Givers is primarily a feeding ministry and a serving ministry, not a school-clothes-providing-and-teaching ministry. Or so I thought.

Then, a brother from our church offered the inventory from a store that had gone out of business as a donation. He said there were lots of kid's clothes, among a lot of other stuff. Debra and I visited him last week to see what was being offered. Sure enough, there was lots and lots of stuff. Clothes, t-shirts, jeans, shoes and undies, most in kids' sizes. And miscellaneous goods like baby oil, shampoo, backpacks, and dolls. Oh, and school uniforms. Lots of school uniforms. About 60, he thinks. Both black and white and blue and white - the colors kids wear to school in Mexico. (Are you reading this, Greg?) So now we have to arrange cartage and volunteers to sort - but the bottom line is that dozens of kids who would be working in the fields or just staying home this autumn will instead be attending school, and helping to break the cycle of dependency in which they are now enmeshed. Very cool. We took a few boxes with us for the planned trip south the following day - some baby oil, shampoo and a few other items.

Some weeks ago Debra discovered a non-profit in Florida that recycles bath soap from hotels. http://cleantheworld.org/ After some push-and-shove, and the support of friends and a church near the warehouse in Florida, and donated cartage, and all the rest, we received a pallet of brand-new bars of bath soap. Not the skinny kind from Motel 6, but nice, fragrant hand-sized bars of bath soap.

We visited an orphanage near where we live on Sunday, just outside the Mexican town of Tecate. This home had been suggested as a candidate to be sponsored by a church we are helping to establish an orphans outreach. We were hosted by Pepe, the adult son of the founder of the Children's Home. We had a great time making new friends, connecting the U.S. church with the orphange, playing a few games with the kids, and just "puttin' the love on" the precious children. Of course, we had a few hundred pounds of food to give them, but we saved that bit of information until the end.

I chatted with Pepe, and described the Hilarious Givers ministry. Of course, he was grateful to be asked to become one of our sponsored programs. His kids are well-fed, but donations have dropped off recently, and whatever we can do to help would be appreciated. But, he went on, what the kids really need today is soap. And baby oil. And shampoo.

When we opened the back of the truck and started unloading food, we soon came to the cases of soap and baby oil and shampoo. I don't think I will ever forget Pepe's beaming face as he exclaimed "Mira! Jabon! Aceiti de bebe! Champu!" (Look! Soap! Baby Oil! Shampoo!) So we not only filled their pantry, but were able to be the hand of God in answering a prayer.

So, once again I'm given a lesson in humility. My plan is to feed kids. But God has so much more in mind for me. And he keeps reminding me.

When you ask if your prayers are going to be answered, the question is not well phrased.  Your prayers are answered before they ever spring to your mind. Pepe's prayer for sanitation supplies were answered weeks ago, when Debra was touched by the soap salvage ministry. Greg's prayer for school uniforms was met when the business closed and its inventory went to storage. My prayer for the means to support my family and fulfill our mission has been answered - I just don't yet know what that answer is.

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)

Hilarious Givers: Time, numbers, dollars and what counts. They're not all the same.

Hilarious Givers: Time, numbers, dollars and what counts. They're not all the same.

Time, numbers, dollars and what counts. They're not all the same.

The month of May has been incredible for Hilarious Givers. We distributed about 23,000 pounds of nutritious food, sanitation supplies and water to needy kids and their families during May. Several missions and feeding programs have allowed us to come alongside them and expand our outreach. Two churches have invited us to get involved with them to enlarge their efforts in Baja California.

It seems there is never enough time to get done what needs to be done. To prepare a 15-minute presentation requires hours of time. Sending a pallet of food south takes assembling, from tons of food, a meaningful variety; otherwise we end up giving some orphanage a twenty-year supply of toilet tablets instead of the soup mix we had intended.

Adopting a new orphanage in Baja requires getting to know its directors, procedures, and morals.

If that time is not invested, we would end up supporting the cause of some superstition-following cult or a commercial venture whose goals are contrary to ours. The enemy is always testing our doors.



Fortunately, we have been blessed with volunteers without whom we could never accomplish what we have - but it still takes time and money to keep this mission going.

Still, the number of tons of food distributed is not the important measure. It's the joy that comes from feeding a hungry kid.

It's the knowledge that our efforts have somehow brought the message of Jesus Christ to a family who didn't know Him.

It's falling asleep at night knowing that there are hundreds of folks sleeping on comfy mattresses we have distributed, instead of on plywood beds - or in the dust of a dirt floor.  These are the things that are important. This is what counts.

So. If these are the important things, why is there never time to get them done? It's because I spend my precious time on things that are necessary, but not important. I get up and go to the office to earn money so I can fulfill my duty to my family. Mortgage needs to be paid, bills satisfied, food purchased. "He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?" 1 Ti 3:4-5

But I can't seem to be able to find the time to introduce Hilarious Givers to those who would be willing to donate the money needed to run the charity. Instead, I spend my precious time at the job. God has called me to reach out with this ministry and spread the Good News; still, I get up and go to work. It's easier than asking for help. ". . .ye have not, because ye ask not." James 4:2

Today, I begin knowing I am doing the Lord's work, reaching out to the nations and spreading the news of the grace of Jesus Christ. Still, I am not satisfied. I must do better. I should set aside my pride. I should ask. Not just for help, but for money. Because this ministry will not grow and flourish without it.

So, I am asking. Please go to http://www.hilariousgivers.org/MakingaDonation.dsp and make a donation. Experience the joy of selfless giving. Your donation will help us do the important things - feeding hungry kids, spreading the Gospel, introducing people in our community to the joy of serving Him. "The Lord loves a  cheerful (Hilarious) Giver"!