While I was ministering in the country of Honduras last September, I had the opportunity to speak one night at an inner city, Friday night, on fire for the Lord youth group. The leader/Pastor of Casa de Restauracion is David Martinez. David is only in his twenties and is very much a servant and natural born leader. When I was privileged to speak in Tegucigalpa, they were meeting in a small upper room above a Bed and Breakfast which held around 80 comfortably. But they soon grew out of that space and just recently moved to another facility.
This is where the story gets a little more interesting.
Being friends on Facebook with David after sensing his determined heart while in Honduras and feeling the love of my parents mission minded spirit for the Honduran's, I feel the need to mentor this young and vibrant soul. I anxiously read all that he sends to me. We will message each other randomly and pop in and say hi and so forth, but it wasn't until I received the message on February 17th, that my heart and soul became stirred by the events that were going on in a place where I left pieces of my heart. They love Jesus and that excites me!
David messaged me telling me how the 'services' which they are having each week have grown so much that they are renting 3 buses to get the youth there. His urgent need was mostly for 'SHARES'--and currently, there are only 50 'SHARES' that come with the place and he needs to seat at least 280!!
See, like you, I got a little confused as to why he was needing 'SHARES'--when in fact he was needing CHAIRS!
Bless his heart, I set the message aside and told him I needed to consider how to send him money and if I could actually get support as well for $6.00 plastic chairs or $15.00 aluminum chairs. I decided it was my 'deed' as my dad would say and therefore I PERSONALLY needed to SEED.
I started to reflect on my selfish desires and reluctantly placed them aside as I challenged my husband and remembered my 'stash' (you know, the stash you save for a rainy day which is actually a selfish stash you are going to spend on yourself?)
I get an 'allowance' every other week from my husband in order to keep from putting too many things on credit cards, and I also do three widows hair on a weekly basis who pay me quite well, so with that in mind, I have my 'stash'......only this particular day last Thursday my husband gave me my grocery money/miscellaneous money, which was a check for $300. I cashed it and sent it to Tegucigalpa, Honduras for SHARES/CHAIRS!
After sending the monies, plus the $11 via WESTERN UNION, I felt the release deep in my bones. I went to the restroom and while entering the stall, I heard this still small voice say to me; "Thank you for taking care of my son." I began to tear up and smile! I never told my husband what I did. I just did it by faith and determined I could stretch my dollars a little longer.
Today--I got on my computer to read through emails and within the email was a long awaited response my husband and I were waiting to hear. We 'forgot' to cancel a trip we were going to take as a gift to each other last December and therefore we were in dispute with the Insurance company who told us that we did not have a chance of getting our money back. But GOD sees and knows everything! After five months of negotiation and much heartache of the loss, we just counted it as a sorrowful mistake and learning experience. However, within the sea of my personal emails were these words; " This message is to inform you that your claim has been finalized. We are issuing a check to you in the amount of $3,312.95. You can expect it in about 7-10 business days."
SHARES EQUALS CHAIRS! When I gave the $300.00, God gave EVERYTHING back, plus the $11 it cost to send via WU. The God I serve is a 100% giving God, when you simply SHARE because HE ask.
Oh, and you can bet ya, I told my husband about giving away my money! I give God all the praise and glory and honor HE SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVES!
100 percent return on my SHARES!
