Shining Light Abroad Ministries

“Can you do me a favor?” 

Whenever I receive these type of text messages while I am in the states then I know exactly what message will follow—Someone is about to ask me to bring them something from the states to Guatemala.  The following text message was exactly what I expected.   Can you bring me a pair of prescription eye glasses for a student?

My worker went on to explain how they were playing basketball when M’s eyeglasses got an up close view of the ball.   The eyeglasses broke with no hope of repair.   

My first question was “How much did they cost to buy in Guatemala?”  Q2000!   How in the world did M’s family afford this?   I knew that prescription eyeglasses were expensive, but I was hoping maybe there was a secret eyeglass store that I didn’t know about.   

The worker said this was his exact question to M.   M went on to explain that about 18 months prior her teacher noticed that she was struggling to read.   The teacher went with M to the mall to have an eye exam.   The teacher knew the severity of M needing prescription glasses, and she knew the reality of the family being able to pay for it.   Eyeglasses would be considered a great need, but it was simply not a reality for them. 

So the teacher took the child to the optometrist, ordered the eyeglasses, and paid for them.   Fifty percent of her monthly salary!   This teacher has a husband, children, medical expenses, and bills to paid.  She could have justified not being able to financially help.  She could have given a list of reasons why she is not able to use her salary to meet the need.   But she didn’t.  Instead she met the need from her personal finances.   

M is old enough to understand the value of the dollar (Q). She is old enough to know the sacrifice given by the teacher.   She is old enough to know the teacher’s actions were of pure love for her.   

My favorite part of this story is that I knew nothing about the need or the giving.   This teacher didn’t come to me and ask me to meet the need.  She didn’t post anything on social media to see if someone else would meet the need.  

She met the need.   She chose to give sacrificially.   She chose to trust God.   She put action to her faith.   

Would you sacrificially give fifty percent of your monthly salary to meet a need?!   

And, yes, M has a new pair of eye glasses!