Life: an adventure, a journey with Jesus

Written Thursday, NOV 18, posted NOV 19.

Today Don & I were on a mission. We were out spending a generous love gift of $100 for someone else!

Our mission was to shop and surprise Greg & Bridget with some fresh fruits and vegetables for the Hope House family. We are not confident enough to purchase large quantities and not sure we would not be taken advantage of. So, we asked a wonderful Christian friend to help us and she was thrilled to do so. She took us to a market (not in our neighborhood) and we were able to purchase lots of things. She did the talking (negotiating!) and we paid for the goodies and carried some of them to the car. Not much of a job, was it? We bought squash, apples, bananas, mangos, oranges, potatoes, onions, green beans, some Peruvian green bean they take out of the pods and cook, tomatoes, celery, spinach, and two other Peruvian veggies we cannot identify! Anyway, we used less than half of the money we were given to use. Imagine spending less than $50 for all that food for 18-20 people!

Next we drove out to Hope House and Greg & Bridget were so very surprised, very delighted, excited and beyond words! We told them the 'change' which was over 150 soles was for additional fruits and veggies as necessary in the upcoming weeks. Bridget reminded me that today was Thursday and they do their weekly shopping on Friday so our timing was perfect!

Mission accomplished! Think, just for a moment, of the BIG picture and what three hours one morning brought about.
- The Hope House family benefits from the generosity of their friends in the United States.
- The children and staff enjoy healthy foods and nutrients not usually affordable in their budget.
- The surprise and gifts of food is definitely an encouragement.
- The excitement the children will have at mealtime this week.
- The fellowship we shared during the shopping trip was precious.
- The teaching experience for us in shopping in bulk!
- The opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus provides us purpose and blessing.
- One group of teenagers and young adults, led by some men and women of God, made the choice to share of their own personal finances and God will bless them for that decision!

Thanks Bill, Mary & Jan for this opportunity and please extend our thanks to the C/W team for extending their love to Hope House in such a practical way.