Imagine you were sitting in the temple that day, watching this scene take place. A women walks into the temple – you recognize her because you were recently at the funeral of her late husband. Since her husband’s death, she has been struggling to make ends meet. With the little income she makes, she is barely able to provide for her children. Yet she walks, head held high, to the offering box and puts in two small coins. In comparison to the wealthy men and women who have already contributed, her offering is small and insignificant. Yet to her, this generosity is an incredible risk.
“This is also a story of teamwork and cooperation – from the willingness of people outside of Haiti lending a helping hand, to the commitment of local Haitian churches and organizations reaching out to those affected by Hurricane Matthew.”
You might think her foolish – why didn’t she think about her children’s well being before doing this? Where will this family’s next meal come from? However, Jesus’ response is quite the opposite – he praises her for her generosity! Our God loves generosity.
As I look back on all that has been accomplished over the past three months to help those affected by Hurricane Matthew, I see a story of generosity. Thousands of people have witnessed the great need in Haiti, and have responded with gifts and prayers. Over $750,000 has been donated from individuals, churches and businesses, and with additional funds from the Canadian Government through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, this totals nearly $1.2 million!
Just before Christmas, World Renew also received a generous donation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – enough blankets, tarps and emergency kits for 8,000 people! For the thousands whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Matthew, this support is incredibly helpful. In addition to the distribution of supplies from IOM, plans are also underway to purchase and distribute housing materials, and provide training on improved construction methods, allowing families to repair or rebuild their homes.
The generosity of thousands continues to amaze me, and I am reminded that this is also a story of teamwork and cooperation – from the willingness of people outside of Haiti lending a helping hand, to the commitment of local Haitian churches and organizations reaching out to those affected by Hurricane Matthew, to the disasters survivors who never lost hope and continually fought to provide for their family and community. Just like the widow, you have stepped out in faith to serve God’s children in need.
Thank you for being a part of this story!
