Gifting Across Oceans

There is no way to describe the change I have experienced in my heart from the whole “iget2give” concept…and the REALITY of it. Growing up in the church, I always saw giving through ordinary eyes. I saw it as tradition. Without heart. Without purpose. As an adult, I have now been gifted the ability to see giving for what it truly is, and, more importantly, what it can do!

I did not receive a material gift at the iget2give event, but I did receive a new perspective. This, in itself, is one of the best gifts I have ever received. As the event came to a close, my brain started thinking of giving…throughout the year…every day…practicalities of it all…etc. I certainly don’t have the financiaI means of gifting much or often in the material sense, so I just started praying. Africa kept coming into my head. I’ve never been before. I’ve thought about it here and there over the last few years and actually even prayed about going. Never thought I would/could afford to go…always kept God in my box…I am such a planner, organizer, realist…I limit God entirely way too much. Soon after I began praying, I sat down with my husband because I just knew that Africa was it, but I just didn’t know how. I thought I could tell all our family at Christmas about it and ask them that, in place of any gifts they might get for me over the next year, to give me money to get to Africa. Winding down the discussion and brainstorming, we realized that our faith was enough. He would provide — somehow. It wasn’t 24 hrs. later that we had all our Christmas gatherings, and many presents and conversations were exchanged. I was not far from sharing with everyone how I was going to go to Africa and the whole financial explanation, when we were handed an envelope. In this envelope was a significant cash gift, at least in their minds that is what it was. However, minutes later I got to share with them what their gift actually meant. This envelope was a testament to having a little faith, and it was a sizeable monetary gift that would allow me to share the ULTIMATE GIFT with people who have never heard the good news, His story…of hope…of love…of eternal life.

I have been gifted. Beyond comprehension. Beyond borders.  - Kelsey