Sharing God's Love through Gifts of Food

Talking about touching lives and crying buckets of tears, God’s love is the ultimate source and He is not shy in giving His love to us. 

We had such a wonderful opportunity today to give generously to 12 families all the food and supply that we bought the other day.  There were 8 of us from HiS Print Family and 4 ladies from the organization that went visiting each home this morning.  

As we picked up all the sorted packages, we drove around the city to hand out the packages. The first home we visited was the home of a handicapped young teenager. None of us knew what to expect as we walked into the apartment. Passing through the hallway and into this tiny kitchen room that was connected to two other small rooms, there was barely any space for the 12 of us to stand. Very clearly, this home did not have much, and the living condition was poor.  A lady who seem to be a nurse / physical therapist was present with the young man, his parents didn’t seem to be home. Sitting on his bed, we spent a short time greeting and taking some pictures together. With very little room to move, 5 minutes went by and our lady guide who had the list of homes motioned us to head out after sharing about who we were and the gifts we brought. 

Following that visit, on our way to the next home, I was strongly convicted about the missed opportunity we had to pray for that young man and the opportunity to share Christ even more intently through words of encouragement and truth. Knowing that God was tugging in my heart and reminding me of His love and the reason why we doing what we are doing, to give and share God’s love with these people, I offered to pray for our second family. 

The mother & daughter who lived on the 5th floor of the apartments, they were the sweetest people and seeing the mother’s smile as she welcomed us into her tiny home was just so heart warming. The daughter had a lot of health issues and struggled to walk. She seemed closed off and shy at first, clearly overwhelmed by the crowd of people that came into her home. We asked about her situation, and she was willing to share briefly about her story on how she was not able to move for 6 months but has now recovered a lot more and have been fighting strong each day against her illness and not giving up. She was most likely in her late 20s early 30s. Financially, many treatments and medicines needed were just not affordable, and it has been difficult for them. 

As we offered to pray a blessing over them, we had Ivana (one of the ladies that joined us from the organization) translate. She did such a wonderful job, and God showed up in mighty ways through each prayer she got to translate for the rest of our time together. The daughter finally smiled and the mother welled up with tears as we said our goodbyes. It was a memorable and touching moment for us all. They had such great joy and the biggest smiles as they waved us goodbye from the window.  

God’s love was shown through the giving, the encouragement and blessings, and in every hug and kiss, God’s love shined in the hearts of everyone we met. The following 10 families and homes that we visited had each of its own stories and unique circumstances, God used every one of us in His own way and each moment had its own special blessings where lives were impacted and seeds were planted. On several occasions, tears of joy and thanksgiving kept flowing for both the families as well as for us. Hearing and seeing some of the living conditions and learning about the circumstances that some of these elderly couples or mother and children are living in were just heart wrenching. When it comes to poor health and the little-to-no financial income that many of these household face, it really opened our eyes and reminded us once again God’s grace and mercy in our lives. 

I could write ten more stories for each of the family encounter that we got to have and how incredibly amazing God was in showing up and changing lives. But all of them would be the same, because it is the same love and same power of Christ that enabled the hearts to turn towards God. With that said I have to share this particular story. 

Anna, our youngest team member who is the most energetic, full of joy and loving spirit, a beloved daughter of God, she had the opportunity to pray for this one family. The mother lives with her daughter alone, because her husband had passed away 6 months ago. When I tell you that this is probably the most precious moment and highlight of the day, it is easily in the top 3 greatest divine appointment God placed in our paths. Anna and the mother were both crying non-stop, everyone had already walked out, and Anna is still lingering and hesitant to leave, her heart was captured by God’s love to show and care for this family through a simple prayer and through her big heart that poured out Jesus. Our hearts melted in that moment as we cherished the short time together.

Being that shining light, leaving HiS Foot Print wherever we go, to love them where they are and love them till they ask why is exactly what we got to do today. And it doesn’t just end with these families, but God was also working in Ivana’s heart as she prayed all the prayers in Croatian. The kindle that was re-ignited in her heart to desire and know God once again is beautiful and a miracle in God’s eye. 

Grateful hearts and joyous thanksgiving fills within us. To have the opportunity to witness for Christ, being an ambassador and co-labor with Christ in serving in the harvest field has been an incredible blessing.  

C-Bass

Note from David: 

VBS is still going strong and final day is Friday.  I met a couple of people here at HiS HOUSE that I had met at the sports conference in Italy in May. We talked about future ways to unite the region and using HiS HOUSE as a meeting place for Christian brothers from Croatia and Serbia to pray and strategically plan for the future spreading of Gods love and healing here!

Have a wonderful God filled day and remember Jesus loves you and so do I!