I don’t ever want to stop being amazed. Some people think that faith sets our expectations with such certainty that we should not be surprised when God does something incredible. I’m not personally partial to that tack. I like praying and following my heart as it looks through a darkened glass trying to sort out what’s God’s purpose and Wayne’s preferences. And I enjoy being constantly amazed with wonder and visceral gratefulness every time he makes himself known through moments large and small. This day has pushed me over the edge with such awe and thankfulness that I am completely undone!
I recorded a podcast this morning (for tomorrow) and during part of it I update people on what our friends in Kenya hoped to do for the people in West Pokot that have been dying because of drought and unsanitary conditions. We helped finance a team to take relief water and food to them last month for $62,000. But they came back with a vision on their heart to build four classrooms and a dispensary (pharmacy) there to help those dear people. The cost of doing so would be $41,000.00. They also wanted to drill three wells, with solar-powered pumps to provide water for them at a cost of $93,000. I thought the $62,000 was a big deal, I had no idea how God would find us $135,000 for these projects.
Two days ago I returned a phone call to someone in Texas who had called while I was on the east coast. He asked me what I needed for Kenya and I told him about the classrooms and dispensary for which I already had a budget. He said he would send me the money for that. He asked what else we needed and I told him about the wells they wanted to drill, but I did not yet have a plan of how to do that or the costs involved. He said let me know when I did. Today he called me to tell me he and his wife wanted to pay for all the wells and would be sending me $93,000.00
Before I was even able to make that need known, God had already supplied for it! As I type this I am exploding with gratefulness at God’s provision for the people in West Pokot. The amount was overwhelming and my heart hurt for those suffering. This gift will change their lives forever, saving many from certain death and carving out a hopeful future for them. This whole process has opened them to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. If you haven’t read about it, check out the blog here .
Generosity is a conduit for the kingdom, whether it means being able to give $135,000 to provide education, needed drugs, or water to 120,000 forgotten people in the bush of Kenya, or simply buying a $5.00 meal for a homeless person and offering them your friendship or volunteering to watch a distressed mother’s children while she takes a break. Freely you have received, freely give. The size is never what matters, only a heart that will put someone else’s need above my own preferences.
