So with only four days until I fly off to South Africa my suitcase is slowly being filled. I'm the kind of girl who doesn't like to wear the same clothes too often as I get bored and feel like I always look the same. So as I'm beginning to throw clothes into the case I'm beginning to worry about my weight allowance, especially because I'm taking two bridesmaid dresses, three prom dresses and clothes for children. The dresses I am giving to a lady who give them to girls who cannot afford to buy their own dresses for weddings, proms and other fancy occasions. As for the clothes, they are going to children who have a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to wear during the winter months or who have to walk to school with no shoes and socks.
As I sit and think about the four weeks I will be away for and the weight allowance I begin to question whether I should take all five dresses and start wondering whether the children's clothes will take up too much room....
This afternoon I come onto my blog account to see if there are any updates on the blogs that I follow. There was one of a friend living in South Africa who I volunteered for in 2010. She has written a blog about being a 'Practical Christian'. This lady spends a lot of time in a homeless shelter (a place I was able to visit when I was out there) talking and showing love to the people who live in there. She explained how she sees other Christian groups going into this shelter and lecturing them about their life styles. Instead of lecturing she talks to them, she listens to them, she takes them to rehab centers, gives them clothes, food etc etc. The more of post I am reading the more it is touching me and then I come across this, 'My mind has been blown over the past couple of weeks. I have had many
people donate clothes and money to buy baby items and blankets, clothes
and towels for the families in the shelter. Around 15 people have given
of their belongings and their finances. Out of that 15 people only 2
were Christians! I find this so interesting. We say that we want to make
a difference in this world; we want to reach others with the love of
God. What I think we really mean by this is we want to make a difference in
our own household. And anything outside is bit of an inconvenience. We
want to keep the money that we make, the clothes that we buy. We want to
live a comfortable life and once I am comfortable in what I have then I
will consider giving to others. But only when my finances and house
hold is secure.' Reading this bought a lump to my throat. I always say I want to go out and help the children and people who need it most, yet I had a thought of not putting all five dresses and clothes in my suitcase for the people I have a heart for just so that I could take a few extra pairs of shoes and tops.
So after reading her blog I will be putting all five dresses in that suitcase all the children's clothes as well as some of my own clothes that are in good condition that I don't wear but I keep "just in case".
She ended her blog with 'How can you be a PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN today? Think on it, pray on it, and ACT on it!'
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