Where there is love there is a way. Compassion on a budget.

DAY 11
 

THE REVELATION OF NEED. 

During this extraordinary season of life, we've all needed to become a bit more resourceful. During lockdown 1, there were things we just couldn't buy locally. Children started posting memes of Gollum holding up a toilet roll as he said with great affection "my precious !". This was a new experience for many in the UK. Even though there are many places in the world this kind of shortage is commonplace, you wouldn't of known it had you seen the attitude of some in the supermarkets, or the overflowing trolleys at the checkouts. We couldn't get everything what we wanted. Nerves were frayed. 

 I was involved in a fracas involving around 15 people. As I stood politely at my local checkout, a very large, much perspiring, giftedly hairy, unmasked man, came exceptionally close. It would be a fairly unpleasant experience on most days, but actually pretty traumatic in the early days of a new pandemic. He clearly had a passion for something (it wasnt the one-way system), which became clear as he held me to ransom (or at least shouted angrilly at me to "******* shift") so that he could fill his trolley with around 10 bottles of essential lockdown spirits. A group of elderly ladies (behind me in the queue that now extended long down the aisle) told me not to "move an inch". As I pondered who to obey, and who I had best chances with in a scrap, one of the ladies stepped into the ring (mid 80's) and boldly said to the perpetrator...

"it's good to see somebody's got their priorities right !". 

The thing had esclated so fast, for once I was speechless. Being the polite gentleman (and complete coward - especially against the lady) I moved left stage. Soon half of Lidl payroll made acquantence with the man,  and usherred him to his own especially opened till to prevent the incident involving Christchurch CSI. Upon getting to the till with his stash (amidst the unjustice cries of the afforementioned ladies, and one man still curiously going on about the one way system) , the cashier (an equally robust and hairy gentlemen) asked him if he was using the vodka for hand sanitiser, dissinfectant or antisurface detergent? 

His answer with comedic timing... 

"what d'yuh take me for ? Stupid or something?"

Pondering the whole thing (and taking consolation with a fresh doughnut) I asked myself "what would it be like if we were in real need?"

Not since the 2nd World War had we known a time of shortage and distribution issue anywhere approaching this, but it was Ok... there was always online shopping. The profit rise of all online retaillers over the last few months will reasure you that there are ways and means, and you'll still be able to get your avocado, granola, manuka honey, almond milk, quails eggs, and unwaxed lemons when cooking up the next Nigella special. But what would you do if... the internet went down in your area, and the huge and tireseome task of having to click a mouse was not an option. What if ... when you clicked, someone wouldn't collect for you? 

• What if in such a crisis, the goods you were seeking had to be collected by you actually walking out of the front door, with every "bag for life" you own?
• What if shortage impacted prices with such volatility, that your "basics" shopping list went up and down by as much as 50% every day? 
• What if you had lost all major sources of income and savings, and this really, really, mattered?
• What if you weren't jusy feeding your own mouth, but doing this for over 100 hungry children also ?

These are the kinds of questions the two situations we are praying for today ponder before God on a daily basis.

1) Meet Nata. (Odessa)

Natalia Medvidchuk is a trained accountant. God moved her to Odessa just at the time when the team, ministry, demands and number of children being cared for through "grace homes" rocketted. Her role is to help budget and purchse for the ministry. I will not forget the day she tried to explain to me the complexity of this task. Maybe I can relay it this way to you...

Someone asks how much it costs to look after a child or young person? Without an accurate, well argued and considered estimate that provision can be made for the long term, such a child  or young person will not be receive the appropriate paperwork or consent to be helped by a "grace" home. How would you calculate such a thing... espcially in times of covid, in a location so impacted by a volatile economy, that exchange rates and distribution issues impact availability and price. Multiply this calculation by many (the amount of children or young people asking to come into care at the same time, all in various needs of clothing, healthcare and nutrition). 

The metrics are so finely margined, that small questions have multiplied impact. Every minutiae matters.

How many potatoes does a child eat per year? (repeat for carrots, all veg, any fruit when in season).

How much toothpaste does a child need per year? (presuming the top goes firmly back on the tube), how much soap, shampoo etc etc. Without clear, accurate answers to each question, a new child cannot be cared for, and existing child in care will be impacted. This is true responsibility. This is what compassion at the coalface looks like.

• This is a vital foundational ministry which impacts the viability of all the church and mission do, it impacts many, many young lives, and we should pray for Nata in this indespensible role, as she seeks to honour God in it.
  
• Thank God for bringing Nata and her family to the team.
• Thank God that Nata's two boys (David and Adam) have settled well,
  
  especially into the Sunday School at Church  

(Cf Day 1: Pastor Sergey and Fontanke Baptist). 

• Pray that the boys will grow in the knowledge of God and that He will prepare them to be used for his glory.
  
• Pray for Nata in the juggling of work and now in this covid season the issues of home schooling (shut kindergarten etc) also help for Nata's Mum in this season of restriction, as she lives in Carpathian mountains.

 

2) We thank God for the aid and evangelsim team in the East, and thank them for the way they are helping those in real need in the name of Christ. 

One of the biggest needs faced this winter, with the continuance of war, high oil/gas prices from the occupied territories is fuel, and food. We thank Kirill and the team for all they are doing to provide potatoes and coal to the elderly, and downtrodden, and we pray for them in the opportunities such expressions of love open up. Thank God he meets all our needs. Can we be missional in times of crisis and basic needs...? Yes with God's provision. What has he provided ? 

    a) His faithfulness

Psalm 37 is a supremely helpful psalm in such times, reminding us why the faithfulmess of God, (ultimately in Christ) should help us not fret. 

Verse  25&26

"I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing."

    b) His unmatchable treasure in the gift of Christ ( 1 Peter 1:3-5)

"According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith..."

    c) His presence (Deut 31:6, Hebrews 13:5, Matt 28:20)

    d) For eternity (1 Peter 2:9)

As you watch the video,

•  thank God for the team in the East and their expression of God's compassion and provision to this needy area. 
• Thank you Kirill for filming so well. 
• Thank God for their creativity and resourcefulness in sharing the gospel (popcorn, candy floss, family fun), that they are able to speak the gospel of hope into this situation. 
• Pray for those who hear of the greatest gift, that their hearts will be readied to recieve, and know true provision and lasting joy in Christ.
  

 

Thank God, that we have so much, and on top of all this He gives us more of himself as we ask, and friends like these in His family,

BLOGSKI