Instead, I'm going to focus on one story at a time.
Today, after arriving at Hope House, Steve (an Envision team member) and I, along with a few of the kids and my translators, walked to the local grocery store to purchase some cleaning supplies. Here in Libreville, at least, there is a grocery store that will carry lots of food supplies, but most of the fresh fruit, meat, and bread comes from the vendors set up on the side of the road. Steve wanted to purchase gato balls (like donuts) as a treat for the kids, but they told him that they would rather have bread (french bread is a food staple here, and very often people will eat it with butter for breakfast).
It was a good reminder for me, that while I love the idea of giving these kids something special, the necessities must come first. A child who hasn't eaten breakfast, lunch, or dinner has very little use for candy. I'm proud of them for saying so (though in a more tactful way).
I'm also reminded that too often, when we give, we want to dictate exactly how that money will be spent. Sometimes there is wisdom in this, to make sure that when we give money it is going toward the things that we want it to. I believe strongly in financial accountability. But I also believe that sometimes we can be a bit arrogant, giving and assuming that we know exactly how the money should be spent, without giving those who are in the ministry day in and day out the authority to spend it where it will be most needed.
What do you think? When we give, how much should we dictate how the money is spent?
That's a great question. I don't remember who it was that told me someone bought an old firetruck once and wanted to donate it but the area where they wanted to donate it to didn't have any roads, so it was practically unusable. I think the intentions are always good but you're right sometimes we think we know better than the people who actually need the money. I love what you're doing there Kristy. Miss you and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteGood question, Kristy. I suppose if we are giving out of obedience then our giving should be with an open hand, fingers peeled back and no strings attached. It is not ours to hold on to, but to give away. Hard to do when we can only see what we think should happen.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are getting reacclimated over there. I received the sweet little hands in the mail the other day and they are being kept for when you need them back. {they are precious!}
Praying the day ahead of you finds all your needs being met and your steps being laid out clearly in front of you...
Its funny that we were actually having a very similar conversation not too long ago. A woman had died and left the church $10,000 to be used towards art work for the church building. It came to the point that a number of years later the church had still not agreed on art work for the church and was contacting their district office for assistance on paying their bills...all with an account with $10k in it...waiting to be used on artwork.
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