A couple of weeks ago a missionary from Argentina put out the word in
the mission community that she had some seashells to give away. Well,
being as how I still have saltwater in my veins from growing up on the Oregon Coast, I jumped on that
wonderful offer. Since I was the first to reply (or maybe the only one
dingy enough to want seashells?) I won the prize.
Then she came to Shiloh for her semi-frequent spiritual retreat. Sure enough, she showed up with "my" seashells. I was excited to receive them. And what a gift they were! Two whole quart size zip-lock bags full PLUS a small cardboard box! Since I had a busy day planned I couldn't really do anything with them, so I set them aside. The following morning, with a few idle moments on my hands, curiosity won out. I cut the tape off the little box, eager to see the rest of my new seashells. But when I opened the lid, I found an envelope staring back at me. It had the missionary's name on it so I knew it couldn't be mine. A short while later when I handed her the envelope, she let out a squeal! And then she told me this amazing story.
A number of years ago her mission had to move out of Chad because of the war that was going on. They moved down to Yaounde and began what became an effective ministry, working with refugees from Chad. They decided to rent a large truck to transport all their things down here. She said it was loaded to the max with boxes, barrels, trunks, and lots of furniture. Their major concern at the time had been how to bring the rather large amount of money they collectively had across the boarder. They worried that border guards would want to look into all their stuff, and would certainly help themselves to any stash of money they would find. So they finally decided the best way to handle the problem was to divide their funds into many envelopes and stash them here, there, and everywhere. With much prayer they loaded the truck and headed for the boarder. In God's wonderful providence the boarder guards were not the least bit concerned with the load of things that were in the back of the truck. They only wanted to make sure that everyone's papers were in order. It was one of the easiest boarder crossings they ever experienced. With grateful hearts they arrived in Yaounde and began settling in.
She said it took them months to find their various and sundry hiding places. It was kind of like Christmas to stumble across yet another packet of money weeks later. The years have rolled by and now she is returning to Argentina for good. Just the other day she began thinking about her Argentinean money and was wondering where in the world she had hidden it. And here I was, handing her the envelope that contained that money! Imagine what would have happened if I hadn't opened the little box of seashells until after she left Cameroon for good? She only has a couple weeks left in country. She was overjoyed to be reunited with her Argentinean money at just the right moment. And of course, I am thrilled to have more seashells.
So what does one do with seashells in Darkest Africa you ask? Good question. The most special ones will join a pretty glass bowl of seashells that graces a corner of Shiloh's dining room. All the rest will be added to one of our flowerbeds. Just a small reminder of where I come from. They put a smile on my face every time I see them.
Then she came to Shiloh for her semi-frequent spiritual retreat. Sure enough, she showed up with "my" seashells. I was excited to receive them. And what a gift they were! Two whole quart size zip-lock bags full PLUS a small cardboard box! Since I had a busy day planned I couldn't really do anything with them, so I set them aside. The following morning, with a few idle moments on my hands, curiosity won out. I cut the tape off the little box, eager to see the rest of my new seashells. But when I opened the lid, I found an envelope staring back at me. It had the missionary's name on it so I knew it couldn't be mine. A short while later when I handed her the envelope, she let out a squeal! And then she told me this amazing story.
A number of years ago her mission had to move out of Chad because of the war that was going on. They moved down to Yaounde and began what became an effective ministry, working with refugees from Chad. They decided to rent a large truck to transport all their things down here. She said it was loaded to the max with boxes, barrels, trunks, and lots of furniture. Their major concern at the time had been how to bring the rather large amount of money they collectively had across the boarder. They worried that border guards would want to look into all their stuff, and would certainly help themselves to any stash of money they would find. So they finally decided the best way to handle the problem was to divide their funds into many envelopes and stash them here, there, and everywhere. With much prayer they loaded the truck and headed for the boarder. In God's wonderful providence the boarder guards were not the least bit concerned with the load of things that were in the back of the truck. They only wanted to make sure that everyone's papers were in order. It was one of the easiest boarder crossings they ever experienced. With grateful hearts they arrived in Yaounde and began settling in.
She said it took them months to find their various and sundry hiding places. It was kind of like Christmas to stumble across yet another packet of money weeks later. The years have rolled by and now she is returning to Argentina for good. Just the other day she began thinking about her Argentinean money and was wondering where in the world she had hidden it. And here I was, handing her the envelope that contained that money! Imagine what would have happened if I hadn't opened the little box of seashells until after she left Cameroon for good? She only has a couple weeks left in country. She was overjoyed to be reunited with her Argentinean money at just the right moment. And of course, I am thrilled to have more seashells.
So what does one do with seashells in Darkest Africa you ask? Good question. The most special ones will join a pretty glass bowl of seashells that graces a corner of Shiloh's dining room. All the rest will be added to one of our flowerbeds. Just a small reminder of where I come from. They put a smile on my face every time I see them.
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