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Random Acts of Kindness
March 2008
Tornado Relief Efforts
I was a part of the disaster relief team that traveled to Jefferson County following the recent tornado. At the end of the day, we were called to the home of a single mother. Her home was still standing but it had sustained major damage. After the work team completed placing the tarp on her roof, she was going to buy groceries but only had $5.00.
I immediately thought of the RACK card in my wallet. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this ministry!
February 2008
After holding onto my RACK envelope for a few months, waiting for the "right" time to give it to someone I knew exactly where it needed to go after reading an article in our local newspaper about a local teenage girl that is hosting a soccer tournament as her senior project to raise money for Autism Awarness. This definitely tugged at my heart, seeing that my best friends son suffers from this dreaded diagnosis and how he has benefited from the therapy that the Autism Awarness fund has afforded him. Without this expensive therapy he would not be the thriving VERBAL 6 year old he is today! What a blessing it is to be able to send her an extra donation and to see a teenager on the right track, what an inspriation she is to all!
December 2007
This year I picked up 4 brown "unleaded" envelopes- one for each member of my family. I placed a $20 in each and handed them out before Christmas. I ran into a woman who had run out of gas after letting her room mate borrow her car. She only had 1/2 of a small can of gas- $1.78 was all the money she had. I gave the the RACK envelope I had just put in my purse. She thanked me over and over and then she hugged my neck in the middle of the parking lot. I thought it would be harder to give the RACK envelope away when it was my own money in the envelope. But you know what- once I put that money in the envelope- it was God's money. And I just needed Him to show me where to give it!
Recently my son and I were walking into a store and had to get out of the way of a guy pushing his car to the curb. After we passed him I heard him call out- Ma'am, could you help me? I was already reaching for my RACK envelope. He said he was out of gas. I said Merry Christmas as I handed him the envelope. A few minutes later my son nudged me inside the store and pointed behind me. The guy had followed us into the store with his gas can in hand to say thanks. He said he had recently moved here from Savannah and had expected a full days work and had only gotten a half day. He was hoping he had enough gas to get home but he did not. He introduced himslf and thanked me again. He wanted to know where I went to church and said he had been to Victory. We talked for a few minutes, and when he left my son looked at me and said- "Now, did that make you feel good?" Yes indeed, it did!!
We recieved three $20 bills by an anonymous giver at White Oak Campground. This gave us an opportunity to give to "Mamma" here in Thomson. This group provides food, clothing, household goods and money for those in need. The twenty dollars given to each of us and my Mother were given here! ($60 total) Thank you for your continued ministry to our Lord and Savior!
October 2007
I met a lady in Wal-Mart standing in line to checkout. This lady was trying to count her money to see if she had enough to pay for her medicine. She was putting her groceries back in order to pay for the medicine. I offered her one of the RACK envelopes and she was so thrilled that she followed me to my car in the parking lot. She said to me, "There are truly angels her on earth."
A friend met a lady in a Waffle House who had two small children and was on the verge of being evicted from her apartment. She gave her one of the RACK envelopes and she smiled and said this will help me get food for my children tonight.
"Thank you for being with us at Siloam United Methodist Church Sunday, October 21, 2007 and sharing the gift of love from the anonymous donor. What a wonderful way to show God's blessings!
One special gift was given to a college student who seemed so appreciative for the money and scripture verse.
The other gift went to the lady who served as caregiver for both sets of our elderly parents. She now has an adult son who lives with her and he has many health problems. He recently fell and broke his leg that had a metal plate from a previous injury. A few weeks ago she lost her sister. When we went to her home to "pass the evelope" she continued to praise the Lord for His goodness.
We wanted you to know what this act of kindness meat to us and others." - a letter from Siloam United Methodist Church
August 2007
On Sunday, August 11th, I passed a couple on the corner of Bobby Jones Expressway selling newspapers. My 13 year old daughter commented on the bags behind their news paper stack. My husband and I decided that these people were there with all their belongingd and looked to be homeless. I knew that this woman would not be out in the 100 degree weather, while pregnant, if she didnt ha ve to be. I knew that this was the family that deserved the envelope. It touched me to be able to give to a family in need.
February 2007
Tammy stopped me before church and said “Be sure to ask for RACK testimonies after church today. I have one”
So as usual at the end of worship and before our benediction I asked if anyone had a RACK testimony to share.
Tammy stood and told this story.
“I was visiting one of my parolees last week on our regular schedule. He is a man who as a baby was held in a blanket by his grandfather and as the grandfather rocked this baby he fell asleep. This baby fell out of the grandfather’s lap and rolled into the open fireplace. As a result of the extensive burn damage to his body the young man is greatly disfigured in the face and all over his body. He has no eyebrows or eyelashes or hair. He has difficulty walking. Severe burns also caused brain damage. He has had many skin grafts, face surgeries and brain surgeries over his lifetime. Recently, he has applied for SS disability because his brain injury and many surgeries have left him with a seizure disorder and he is unable to work. He has been denied disability. That day he held out a paper to me as we talked and I could see the prescription. He said “What will I do? I don’t have money for my seizure medication”.
“I knew God was speaking to me at that very moment and I knew without a doubt where my RACK money was needed. I reached into my purse and took out the envelope and gave it to him. The cost of the prescription was $25.10. I found my wallet and made up the difference. He reached to me and hugged me as tears streamed down his face and the words “thank you, thank you” came from a grateful heart.”
“But is was my heart that was grateful. Grateful that God had ministered through me to one of HIS own special children who needed a touch of HIS hand that day. A random touch from one of HIS servants.”
Tammy wept openly in church as she told her story and I saw several handkerchiefs blotting eyes as we all felt God’s presence and HIS love for both Tammy and her friend.
SIDENOTE perhaps for only the eyes of the benefactor.
In May we will be hosting a big BBQ at YOUNG MEMORIAL UMC to benefit Tammy’s 10 yr. old son, Taylor. Taylor is autistic and Tammy is a single mother. (Her husband died several yrs. ago as a result of a car accident.) She recently learned of a new therapy technique for Autistic children and has become very involved in implementing it in the home. On April 28 she and Taylor’s therapist will travel to NY to continue the program and to learn advanced techniques for therapy. She is very dedicated to doing all possible to advance Taylor’s skills and abilities. (I have been able to help with sign language for Taylor since that is my field as a Speech Pathologist.) The cost of the workshop is $900 for both parent and therapist. In addition she already knows air fare is $225 each. Motels, etc bring the total to an estimated $2000. YOUNG Memorial UMC is going to loan this amount to Tammy and then we will all help with a BBQ fund raiser to reimburse the church. GOD has really blessed us in so many ways and HIS LOVE is abounding as we all work together in so many areas as a result of RACK. This will be the whole church IN RACK for TAYLOR. However, not a Random act, but a purposeful act of Christian kindness for our own little boy. God is Good.
January 2007
I was in the dollar tree and I was trying to purchase some things for my mother who just got out of surgery and was home recovering. I had her debit card but had forgotten her pin number and a woman behind me handed me an envelope from her church. I said I couldn't take it and she smiled and said "God bless you." I opened it and $20 was in it. She wouldn't let me give it back to her. I didn't know there were people still like that in the world. I just want her to know that she blessed me that day and I thank her.
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We United Methodist love a good meal together don’t we? This past week we had our regular Wednesday night supper at church. We had a good crowd. We had good food and good fellowship and prayer time for those who needed a touch from the Lord.
But it was a little different. You see the person who normally prepares our Wednesday night dinner once a month had decided to stop this service at the end of December because of so many commitments in her home. We waited, not knowing what to do about this. Dinners had been a great time of gathering as the Body of Christ. But then one Sunday after church, Brad came up to me and said “Miss Sue, I’ll fix dinner for us.” I was overwhelmed with the great generosity of this young man who is a husband, and father and fully employed. He has a lot to do already. But we made plans and the evening arrived.
We walked into a delicious meal and great fellowship. . Everyone complimented him and expressed their delight with the food and the time to be together. It was all the things I have described above, except for one very exciting and beautiful experience. Brad came to me after dinner with a roll of bills in his hand. He said “this is what is left after my expenses and it is for RACK. “
We are growing and learning all the time to be the very hands and feet of Jesus Christ to all HIS creation. And Brad served us all last week. Good Food, Good Fellowship, and a Random Act of Christian Kindness for many of HIS own people, somewhere, sometime in the future.
To each one is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common Good. I Cor. 12: 7
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