Is it the Thought that Counts?

Barrels line the sidewalk

There are many different associations on the islands. Some are just clubs, others have projects. Many groups will start things and then lose momentum and fade. But there is one group that is not like this.  Their members are excited and motivated. They want to make a difference. They aren’t looking to line their pockets. In fact, they have money and they want to use it in charitable acts.  They want to make their island and city better. They are the ones that helped get trash collection up and running, which has made a huge difference in our city. So when they organized a fundraiser before the month of fasting, our team was excited to support them and buy some of the food they were selling. But the following week, we saw what they used the money towards:

Big, colorful plastic barrels were placed sporadically in the middle of the sidewalk on a few of the main blocks in town. The plastic barrels are meant to hold water, but these barrels were filled with dirt and in each was a small tree.

Immediately we understood the thought behind it— they want to beautify the city. (Yes! We are all for beautifying the city.) They want to counterbalance all the concrete and deforestation with more plants. (We are all for more plants and trees!)  And it would be something to make the city a more aesthetically pleasing place to be. (We are all for that too!)  

But it was a hot week of no rain when the barrels were set out. From experience we know these plastics don’t survive well in the sun— how long before they crack and become worthless? Immediately we saw the tree suffering. Most were in the direct sun.  There didn’t seem to be a plan in place for someone to water them. Many of them didn’t survive the week. Some barrels where the tree had withered, started to see trash collect in them.

Drowning plant

But then this week we got some serious rain and another problem presented itself. The barrels don’t have holes, so they just filled with water— probably drowning any surviving trees. Not to mention that the barrels are right in the middle of the sidewalk, impeding foot traffic and forcing pedestrians to squeeze around them.  

Then there was also the cost. These barrels are expensive, usually running about $50-75 a piece and good dirt is hard to come by— how much money went into all this? Couldn’t they have come up with a better plan? Something that would last?

Yet even as our minds want to criticize and complain, we are humbled. Haven’t we had well-intentioned plans that fell flat? Haven’t we sometimes not realized all the factors ahead of time? Haven’t we seen time, energy or money seemingly be wasted? We’ve spent time and energy on resources that never got used. We’ve invested in English programs that weren’t well managed and fell apart.

We’ve learned from our mistakes (hopefully), and we’ve tried again. We do research, we ask for lots of opinions before committing. We pray for guidance. We don’t want our time and efforts here to be wasted. We don’t want people to shake their heads in dismay at the way we used our resources. We too want to make a difference.

We often challenge islanders by saying that God looks at the heart, that is what He cares about, not the things on the outside that everyone sees. So in that sense, perhaps it is the thought or the intention that matters most, but we still long for good solutions, long-lasting change, and projects that are useful.  Can we have both?  Yes, but it takes time, and might include some plastic barrel mistakes along the way.  But if we persist and grow and learn, God will use what’s in our hearts to do things that will last.

Boys got wet on walk home in rain

PRAYERS ANSWERED
The paperwork for the medical team has been submitted! Praying that it will be accepted and that there won’t be anything more that they need to do. One of our colleagues on the big island finally got to travel home after waiting months for flights to her home country to open up. Praise God for the cooling rains breaking up the heat and humidity! The stories of opportunities to share good news and islanders showing new interest continue— keep praying for more!!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for island brothers and sisters as they try to balance respecting their families and the local culture while still being markedly different. Pray that more and more of them could be effective lights to their communities. One of our colleagues (who works on the small island) was on her way back to the islands and found out already at the airport that her COVID test had come back positive— pray for her as she has had to rearrange all her plans. Only one week of fasting left which includes the night where islanders believe their prayers could have extra power and so some will stay up all night praying. Pray that God would send dreams and visions to those seeking Him. There was a bit of a tummy bug being passed around— pray no one else gets sick.