February 2009

Dear Friend and Partner,

This year will soon be history as we race toward the end of the first decade of the 2000’s.

I am always amazed by the difference in attitude of people. I entered a store a few days ago to collect one of our change boxes. A woman was behind the counter I didn’t know and blurted out as I exchanged the box, “I have a problem with that!” (With customers in line) I enquired as to what she meant and she began to tell me, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t think we should be helping th

ose Mexican kids when there are children suffering here.”

Of course the real problem she has is a prejudice in her heart, or illegal aliens, yet she was taking it out on children whom she has never nor indeed shall ever meet.

  The immigrant debate is one that will continue for many years I’m sure, yet does that somehow relieve our responsibility found in Psalms 82:3 (and many other references too) “Be fair to the poor and to orphans. Defend the helpless and everyone in need.” Interestingly, David didn’t specify which poor and defenseless to help, or which race.  I think they all qualify, it just depends upon us. 

Just a few minutes after encountering this hardened woman, the manager at one of their sister stores gave me a different comment. She said, “Yesterday a young boy came in the store, just old enough to read. He was reading the 

box and looking at the pictures. He handed me a 10.00 bill to pay for the gas his mother had bought, took the change I gave him and ran back to the car. In just a few seconds he was back with a dollar bill in his hand. The box was so full of change he couldn’t get the bill in. After working at it he looked up at me and asked, “Can you help me, I really need to give this dollar?” “I pushed a knife into the slot, and made a hole big enough for him to insert his dollar. He looked up at me and said, “thank you, I really needed to give that!”

  The manager was beaming with joy as she related this story to me.

 I pictured the little boy running back to the car and telling his 

mother something like this, “Mom, there is a box in there collecting money to feed hungry children, can I give something?” It didn’t matter to him if they were Mexican, Japanese, Indian, or American. He just wanted to help. 

Hunger has no prejudice. It affects the rich or the poor, black, white, red or brown. We are honored to have been given the assignment found in Luke 9:13 “…you give them something to eat.” When the Jesus makes 

something plain to you, it becomes a mission for which you will give all that you have to complete.

Thank you for your blindness to race, nationality, or political posture…we could never do this work alone.      

Your Friends,

Jim and Pam Stockdale