Spare Change

It’s been awhile…Today I have a new story for you.

For many years my son and I have been collecting money that we see on the ground (or that I accidentally drop on the ground).   Once a year we count what

is collected and give it in an offering at church.  We’ve done this several times, we have averaged about $50.00 a year.   It began with a sermon I heard where a preacher’s wife believed that when she saw change on the ground it was God thinking about her….. well, that sounded great so I just added to it and made it my own little love offering to God.

While in Africa I saw a coin on the ground and asked Ernesto if it would be offensive to him if I picked it up and put it in a church offering which was my tradition.  He was very polite but requested that I change my tradition and instead pass over anything I find on the ground and pray for the person who will eventually pick it up.

He told me the reason behind his request.  One day he found a cell phone on the ground and felt great joy because it was a better one than he had.  He felt God tell him to leave the cell phone alone because the person meant to pick it up did not have one.  So, Ernesto obeyed but stayed there and watched from a distance to see who would eventually retrieve it.  To his amazement 23 people passed the phone without even noticing then, number 24 was a man who picked it up and immediately began to call out to see who had dropped their phone.  Ernesto said he was stunned at the gentle honesty of this man so he approached him and asked if the man owned a cell phone.  No. So, Ernesto then shared the story with him and told him that God had put that phone right there specifically for him.  The man was overwhelmed and thankful.

I promised Ernesto that I would change my habit.  It has been hard to break but my son and I have completely changed our behavior.  I now pray each time I pass over change on the ground, I will do this when or if I see bills as well.  I cannot speak for my son to say if he prays every time or not.

To continue this blessed story, I have been contacted by a church regarding my request for money for Lima’s driver’s license and Kayode and Ofelia’s Bibles…their congregation is collecting money to help me.  And in addition to that, they have purchased Mason jars for their congregation to take home and collect their SPARE CHANGE and take up a donation once a month for Ernesto and the Real Dream Community Center !!!

I’ve never told them about my spare change story.  I told my son, maybe they heard it from him or maybe they did not hear about it at all.  Maybe it is God keeping the circle of life in motion and using spare change to

make an impact in the lives of orphans in Mozambique.

I am thankful

to God for letting me go to Africa and for going with me.  I am also thankful that God is still working in my life in ways that are very personal.  He lets me know that He is alive, concerned and involved.  I am also thankful to the church helping my cause by collecting their change.

Here is Ric LeMon (member of our team) and Ernesto (on right).