Serving with a Grateful Heart
Jimmy and his wife, the late Melody Cooper, introduced a “Kids-Helping-Kids” lesson series on Receiving, Gratitude, and Giving. They shared pictures of kids from a small town in the states devastated by a tornado. Families were displaced from their homes and men, women, and children died.
The kids from the Kipsongo slum were saddened by such news. They commented, “What can we do? We have nothing to give?” Jimmy and Melody knew differently. They shared that God had ambitious plans and all of them were equipped with godly abilities, skills, and even personal possessions to help others.
There was a brainstorm about ways to help, not only children in this small, country town, but also the least of those in the Kitale region. The kids “from” extreme poverty decided to help kids “in” extreme poverty from Mt. Elgon. They asked for donations at the Tent Church, sold chapati to mission teams, and washed cars. Jimmy commented, “They must have washed my car a half-dozen times!”
They raised enough schillings to send $42 to help the desperate children in Vilonia, Arkansas. The kids also mailed encouraging words and messages of hope. They used the additional schillings to purchase food and school supplies for kids in extreme poverty from Mt. Elgon. The kids also recognized a need to make classroom repairs. They used the Seeds Ministry Woodshop to make desks and chalkboards.
Jimmy shared one very memorable moment. Several kids placed their arms around him and said, “Thank you Jimmy for giving us the opportunity to give to others.”
The kids learned that out of gratitude for what they have received, they have special abilities, skills, and even personal possessions to give unto others, especially the least of those.
