The heavy package arrived at our bottle and can drop-off table while I was inside the church attending second service. It was wrapped in a small, folded over yellow manila style envelope held closed with a rubber band.
Today (April 28th) was the date of our first bottle and can drive for the Spain Summer Mission Outreach of 2013, and we were taking turns manning the drop off station near the baseball field, and going into service. Kathy and Art were working the table when it arrived and Kathy mentioned it to me when I got back. She said a young man had dropped this weighty bundle of pennies and some other coins off as a donation and that they had come from his grandmother.
Kathy was immediately intrigued, and suggested we look through them in case there were any old pennies in the bunch. I opened the packet, but quickly decided it was too big a project to tackle at that moment and set the whole thing aside.
Carla arrived about that time, and so she and I took our turn manning the table to allow Art and Kathy the opportunity to go in to the Third Service. Bottle drop off was pretty slow by that point, so after chatting for a while, I mentioned that I was going to count the donation money we had received this morning. Counting the bills, and silver change went very quickly, and Carla willingly double checked my totals. We moved on to open the envelope and count out the weighty change. I am a little "Adrian Monk-ish" with counting pennies -- I create piles of ten pennies, and line them up in rows with ten piles in each, so I can figure out how many dollars in copper pieces I have before I roll, or package them again -- and Carla joined me. There were ninety piles, a few extra Canadian pennies, and a few stray wheat pennies, all totaling up to nine dollars and about ten cents. We wrote our totals down on paper and began cleaning up the whole things shortly thereafter.
It was also the day of the Spanish Ministry Luncheon, and Carla, Art, Kathy, and I went in for that. Once inside I was chatting with the Nunez family, and learned that the pennies were delivered by their son, Daniel, and had come from his grandmother, Aura, who passed away last July. Those pennies took on a whole new meaning for me as I remembered a godly woman, who tirelessly served others, and poured herself out for her family. One who, though she spoke no more than a couple of words of English, insisted that I come out for the Spanish Ministry luncheons the past two years and when I arrived, made sure that I did not leave without getting more than enough to eat. She was strong as an ox, walking miles each day and surviving stage 4 cancer for years before the Lord called her home last July. She was a lady who also saved pennies and bottles for her church. When she passed away, she left a pile of pennies and other coins on her dresser for her family and some deposit bottles in their shed. They decided to donate the bottles and pennies toward the Spain outreach. It touches me so much to think that Aura is still giving to the Lord's work through the pennies and bottles she left behind, and of her heritage, demonstrated in the generosity of her family.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
All About Redemption
9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1:9-14
From July 28 through August 11th, we are going to Spain. With Andy ministering more intensely to unreached peoples, I find myself in the role of team leader this year, and coordinating our first fundraiser of collecting and cashing in bottles and cans for deposit money. Team members need to raise $1,800 each, which means trusting God in a big way, and collecting as many bottles and cans as possible!
As I walked past the bottle redemption center at Target, I was struck by the word "redemption" and it's biblical meaning. I can't stop thinking about that word and am glad that our fundraising project will keep it at the forefront of my mind in these next few months, as I remember the people of Madrid who need to come to know Christ, redemption through His blood, and the forgiveness of sins.
The work continues, as we partner with Pastor Antonio Amigo and our brothers and sisters in the Iglesia Evangelica at Las Aguilas once again for a special two week campaign to bring the gospel to the people of Madrid. I am praying that we would be blessed to see fruit from last year's outreach, and continue to plant more seeds that there would be a great harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God. Please pray with me that God would prepare souls to receive the message of the Gospel, and for divine appointments when we get there. As team leader, I need wisdom in handling what comes my way. I appreciate the great example provided last year in Andy Schmalfuss in that very area, as I observed him praying for God's direction, even in the small decisions. Pray too, for all stages of planning and preparation, as we expect once again to minister in music, through sharing our testimonies, and with puppets and drama.
If you have any deposit bottles or cans, or care to make a donation in support of our team, you can drop bags of bottles and cans off at the backstop near the SGT/SCS baseball field on any of these dates: May 19th, June 30th, or July 14th. Checks can be made payable to Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, with a note enclosed or attached indicating a designation for "Spain Summer Outreach 2013". If you wish to designate it for support for one of our team members, be sure to include that person's name on the note. Donations can also be mailed to us at:
Spain Summer Outreach 2013
Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle
1 Higbie Drive
Smithtown, NY 11787
Thank you in advance for standing with us in reaching the people of Madrid for Christ.
Blessings, Tricia
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