Stuffing It Full

As we zipped up the last bag we noticed the stitching along the zipper had popped. There spilling from the last bag was its contents. Something was sticking out. I remembered then that on the last leg of the last journey the wheel of this bag was also wobbling. Its mistreatment on the last flight had been major!

It is a fairly new bag and should have held up to the rigorous punishment – but alas it blew a stitch to two – now all that was inside was going to spill outside… or at least it would likely happen just as the bags were coming out of the baggage chute at the far away airport. There is a funny picture – all my private stuff spilled out on a conveyor belt for all to see. Yikes…

I am worried about my own personal body… it has been mishandle lately and lots of stuff has been lambasting it from all sides… will it blow a stitch or two and … DON’T even let that thought stay around… dummy!

These are the dangers of travel. And with all these dangers floating easily to the surface of our minds – we climb on a jet this afternoon to be whisked to London, England first and then within two hours of its landing we get on another jet to finally land in Nairobi, Kenya the following day.

To say that it has been a swirl of emotions and planning is saying it lightly. ‘Whirlpool’, ‘Tornado’ or ‘Cyclone’ may better describe what it has been like. Add to that the word ‘blur’ and then place ‘panic’ closely to the mix. Take away the ‘peace’ that should be there all the time and I am getting dizzy… BUT it was the anti-malaria pills that should have made me dizzy (and still may do that…). THIS IS MISSIONS 2007 – and all my missionary/teacher friends do it all the time.

I only know the purpose of what we are doing… meeting with some friends that need a retreat and building up. And in this special setting I expect that there will be some very positive building up and strengthening for all of us – healing actually will come to many.

It is an honour to be asked to do this task.

Alida and I would like to thank all that have contributed in some many special ways. Some have given us gifts of money and others have given their prayer and positive support. Thank you to all.

Comedy happens…
For the most part, the folks that we will meet with in Africa at the retreat - are all Canadian – or have had strong Canadian roots. One thing that some of them miss is the oddities of our Canadian culture. One of the oddest things that I know of is the “Roll up the Rim” phenomena, that has gripped almost everyone I know – but some more than others!

With this thought in mind I went to a local Tim Horton’s Donut Shop and asked if I could get a quantity of not unrolled “Roll Up the Rim” cups to take with me to the retreat. I was willing to buy them – only 50 or so if I could. I just didn’t need the coffee in that many cups. It seemed simple enough to ask this question.

The poor girl behind the country looked puzzled. She quickly got the manager – another young lady that was in her late 20s. She then listened to my appeal and left me standing while she made a phone call to her manager – who in turn suggested that I call their District Manager on Monday. They do not sell that many cups (possibly winning cups) to one customer. Won’t help – I leave Sunday. It was only Friday – this should be easy to do. Not!

I had second idea pop into my head – I then began calling all my coffee drinking, rolling up the rim-er friends to pitch in and help. As I began each call it was funny the pause that came with each call. First I wasn’t sure how to ask such a delicate question – but then it became easier.

“Would you be willing to help me give a special “missions offering”? I would like to ask you to go to Tim Horton’s coffee shop, buy a coffee in the paper cup – four or five to be exact – then DON’T Roll Up the Rim! – but rather give it to me “not unrolled” – not revealing the prize and if there is a prize – give it up.”

Background Explanation for non Canadians that have not witnessed this strange happening. The Tim Horton Company is a coffee shop chain across our country. The paper cups that they use have a ‘rim’ around the top. When the cup is made it is printed with ‘instructions’ under the rim – that are discovered when the coffee drinker slowly rolls up his or her rim at the end of the coffee. They have many prizes going from free coffees to bicycles to donuts to even automobiles. There are people that even hate coffee buying the coffee cups to try to win!

Then I explained that we will be taking these cups to the missionaries in Africa to let them have the fun of unrolling the rim – and maybe even winning the automobile, the bicycle, the large screen TV – etc. I haven’t really thought through all of the confusion that may exist if some one there wins big… One of my “givers” did – and said flatly with a faint smile – I get the car if THEY WIN!

There were other very funny reactions – one of which told me that I could have any of his tools, take his car, ask anything of him and he would give it away – even his wife – but I was asking him to do a hard thing – a real sacrifice. I was challenging his “Giving” and his “Greed”. I promised this fellow that this would likely appear as a sermon/lecture illustration at the Retreat coming up. Together we laughed…

Quite by accident I have stumbled on to one of the greatest efforts of true missions giving. We had to really think about what we were giving – and then give it freely without reservation and with love. Some gave even though it hurt them deeply to give so much away.

I am sure that some that gave their Tim Horton cups away will never be the same again. Some that receive it will never be the same again – either. They may win! But in reality we all have won. We gave what we had… and had fun doing it.

Pause…
As I think of this unique giving that we have done together… that is the “Easter Story” wrapped up in a unique 2007 culturally bound story. God didn’t hold back anything – he gave his best to whoever would receive. His best was Jesus. The delight would be for the ‘receiver’ of the greatest gift – God’s love. Just roll it up and win the greatest prize ever given. Wow!

In the next few days I will attempt to post the impressions and insights that we gather. We have our camera and love shooting whatever we can… with the camera that is!

Thank you so much for your prayer support and love that goes with us. We intend to greet everyone we meet on your behalf.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Please write us at murray.lincoln@gmail.com