My sister (who is a missionary) recently posted (HERE) about how their church had welcomed them home when they arrived in the states this past spring. It was so neat to see great ideas of how a church family can really rise up and offer support and encouragement in such a great way.
I wanted to leave her a comment about how I learned the term "pounding" here in the south as a way to stock some one's pantry (a pound of this and a pound of that). I was trying to do a little research on it and ran across a hysterical blog post about how people often give their junk to churches, missions, orphanages and the such. I was laughing so hard at some of the horrible things that people pass on as "donations" all in the name of giving to God. If you want a good laugh (the funny parts were in the comments that people left) click HERE. I mean really, the stuff people donate is down right embarrassing.
So, enjoy the laugh but learn from the great example of how it is important to give our best.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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12 comments:
Thanks for your advice...we walked through both Costco and Sam's yesterday and Costco is overall a better shopping experience..my kids agreed as well:)
I would love for you to add me to your favorites!!
I am EXCITED about your "calling"! Praying your house sells... I think you may be moving to where my brother and his family live :) I am not sure though...just going off clues you left awhile back!
Your tagged! :))
We received a "pounding" once when we had moved to a new house and it was GREAT!
I am scheduled to volunteer on Sat. at FBC's rummage sale... I'll see if I come across any sucktacular Jesus Junk to write about. Thanks for a good laugh.
I think it is especially funny that more than one person mentioned used tea bags and questionable undergarments!
Hey, don't laugh about used tea bags...my missionary friend in Germany got sent them. TOO sad.
I know exactly what you mean.... We've done collections for families and so forth at our church, and I've been stunned. But I tried to put myself in their position... If we consider, most of us probably wear and use some pretty disreputable items. If we like a skirt, we'll overlook that little tear. We wear things with stains because we know how it got that way, and how to mask or hide it perhaps. I think we may figure that if WE are using it TODAY, someone less fortunate will want to use it tomorrow! We don't realize how unappetizing these items can be to others.
And, then there are the elderly folks who must have learned to "make do" during really hard times. We have a food pantry and I am amazed at how many times we'll get an item that has been opened and tried! One time I got an insight when a wizened little old lady brought me a re-used paper sack of such things. In her mind the chips had too much salt for her - but why waste them? The cereal was too sweet, but how could she throw the box away with hungry people in the world? Of course I threw it all away, but I did understand that it was given thoughtfully and lovingly.
On the good side of regifting... When my parents got married 51 yrs ago, they recieved what they then thought was quite an unusual gift. An elderly widow gave them a shoe box full of used and "not new" items. Things like a hammer, ball of twine, rubberbands, a screwdriver, tape and maybe a few nails. As shocked as my then "new bride" mother was at the time. She has mentioned a few times over the years, that she was sure that it was all this woman had to give. And that the shoe box full of items was actually the most useful gift that they received that day.
I don't get the used teabags either.
When I worked with a crisis pregnancy ministry, we once were left 3 big black bags of really beat-up and broken toys - and multiples of everything. There were cars with only 1 wheel, doll legs, books torn in half, nothing usable. We figured it must have come from a daycare (6 of the same toys, all broken?) Maybe they mixed up the trash bag with the giveaway bag...
For the record, our tea bags go in the compost pile. We don't give them to others in the name of charity.
I have stalked your blog for a long time; coming clean. :)
I just had this convesation with a friend of mine who had been on the missionary field for 10 years. She was also amazed at some of the things people would spend money to send!
And we are planning on pounding on a couple in our Sunday school class who are getting married in December. fun times
Jill Brisco tells the story of a parishoner who called to say they were getting a new piano and wanted to donate their old one to the church. Jill said "no thank you, but we would be happy to have the new one!" Shouldn't we give our best to God and to His servants?
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