HHTH packed 130 boxes in October 2018 with the anticipation of getting them to Africa by December so that when CJ and I got there, we would have clothes, shoes, coats, essentials, and toiletries, for all of our 120 African orphan children. Clark Sanford, one of our Board of Trustees members, our great grandsons, James and Oran, came to help us muscle boxes and pallets for shipment. All monies were paid for this shipment including landside charges on the African side.
(Clark, Wayne and Oran)
What a relief to have that shipment on its way with everything our children needed to make their life just a little better. We were blessed with several kind volunteers (Denis, Andrea, and Chuck) who helped me sew schoolbags for our 120 orphans and 150 wrap skirt and head dresses for all of the guardians. The contents of those boxes are what they would be very excited about.
All went surprisingly well. The shipment got to Johannesburg, South Africa by December. We were very happy that maybe we would have no ill affects in this shipment.
But when it hit South Africa, the problems began. We were charged prices for loading, unloading, and shipping our cargo from one place to the other. These charges had been prepaid prior to the shipment getting there, but it was held in storage while the bogus charges were all worked out. Meanwhile $100 a day was being racked up for storage while their own internal issues were keeping us from taking possession of our goods. Suddenly we were notified that we owed $3000. !
When it looked like there was no other choice but to pay it, or abandon our entire cargo, we started a prayer campaign that somehow we would be led to figure this out. $3000 could buy a lot of food for these starving children.
So I decided to write a letter to Anissa, our contact there. While writing I was getting more and more upset and it became a letter of accusation and anger. Just as I was about to save the letter to finish it the next day, it disappeared from my computer screen! This precipitated a little fit, for it was a 2 1/2 hour job just getting it composed. Finally being a person who doesn’t cry over spilled milk, I decided to rewrite it again Sunday evening because nothing could happen until Monday anyway. I continued to pray, as did other people, and our church about this shipment. My heart was changing, and I thought, “That letter wouldn’t have motivated anybody to help us. In fact with the obvious anger burning through the words, it would more likely cause a lack of desire to help us.” So, as suggested in Proverbs, I sought wisdom and help to compose a better more effective letter with loving intentions.
Thus, in a more humble letter, I asked Annisa if she would do whatever she could because these children needed everything in those boxes. And the $3000 charge, in essence would take food out of their mouths. Taking counsel from my friend Terry Sdao, I added the statement to Annisa that, “I know you want this for these children just as much as we do. They are your children, and they are our children. So, could you please do whatever you can do influence a better outcome for the children’s well being. Because you’ are a very intelligent, kind hearted and influential woman, I know you can make a difference.”
(Annisa)
Knowing that she was Christian, I asked Annisa to also pray and she did. The next day, we got the email saying that all storage was rescinded, the entire $3,000. was excused and we could pick up our cargo! We were told to get it asap before anyone changed their mind. Janco, our guide, lives in Nelspruit, the shipment was in Johannesburg, a 6 1/2 hour drive, plus fuel stops, claiming the shipment, and loading it on our trailer. So, the turnaround was more like eight hours. Janco could only fit half the boxes on the trailer which meant he had to make two trips. He did it and we got every single box! A sweet Miracle for sure!
(Janco triumphantly loading our boxes)
Not only would we get to take care of these truly impoverished children with necessary items for their daily life, like toiletries, washcloths, towels, and blankets but, since we didn't have to pay that $3000 we could give them a three month supply of food.
These children must depend on relatives to help them, and most of the guardians can barely feed their own family.
This child marveled that she was receiving food.
Below are just a few of the 120 children Who will benefit from this shipment.
25 of the poorest of the poor receive life giving food.
Without a Mom or Dad to care for him, Tshifhiwa has no security he
will be fed.
These children must depend on relatives to help them, and most of the guardians can barely feed their own family.
This child marveled that she was receiving food.
So there were
many lessons to be learned in this process. I am happy there are people along
the way to help me see them, and changing my approach from aggression, to
seeking knowledge and help. The old saying is ever so true you can catch
more flies with honey than vinegar. It is far greater to get what I truly
wanted, and what was most important, than just to satisfy my anger and to be
right. It brought me back to the truth, It is better to be happy, than to
just be right.
God is good and faithful when we are on the side of kindness, and treating people with respect and dignity. It is a lesson I shall not soon forget.
God is good and faithful when we are on the side of kindness, and treating people with respect and dignity. It is a lesson I shall not soon forget.
Love, Sidney
No comments:
Post a Comment