Since Bill’s passing almost 3 months ago, I have shed many tears in grief and a few in loneliness, but also some in gratitude. I recognize ways in which God has provided for my needs for comfort and support. I have been grateful for the reminders of Bill’s great kindness as I have read notes on sympathy cards describing ways in which he touched the lives of other people. This morning, I shed some tears of gratitude as I thought about the ways in which God is using Bill’s death as friends and family try to honor both Bill and God Himself through their actions in Bill’s memory.
I am sure I don’t know about everything that has been done,
but here are some things I do know.
Delta Lake Bible Conference Center has received at least one donation in
Bill’s memory. Three individuals have
made donations to the Gideons for Bibles to be placed in Bill’s memory. There have been about 10 donations to the
Northern New York Community Foundation to honor Bill. Chapin Living Waters has so far received
about 40 donations totaling over $11,000 for Bucket Kits. These kits allow subsistence farmers in
developing nations to grow crops even during dry seasons, so that they can feed
their families, and sometimes have enough to sell. There are places where these kits make the
difference between eating and not eating.
The funds donated are going to be used in cooperation with Healing Hands
for a project in Africa…most likely in Zimbabwe, although details are still
being worked out.
Additionally, 45 kits were recently hand delivered to Tanzania
as the Lord used several people to accomplish this. Chapin Living Waters received an email from a
man in Tanzania inquiring about the kits.
A man who had become aware of the need while on a safari in Tanzania was
willing to pay for the kits. A runner
friend of Bill’s who had driven several hours to attend Bill’s Memorial Service
mentioned to the CLW office manager that he was going to Tanzania. She asked if he would be willing to take
kits. Since CLW is in northern New York
and the man is from the Finger Lakes region, a volunteer drove to Syracuse, NY,
to meet him with the 45 kits. He packed
these into 3 suitcases and took them to Tanzania, where he delivered them to
the man who had made the inquiry. As I
thought about this and the ways in which God orchestrates our lives, I shed
some tears of gratitude.
I did not want to lose Bill, but I have a strong sense of God’s hand in our parting, I know he arranged our meeting 56 years ago. I have to believe he also arranged our parting, and that it is being used for God’s glory and to accomplish His purposes.
Psalm 56:8…You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
No comments:
Post a Comment