Fuzzy Blanket Blessings

  A class of children from Pennsylvania wanted to share their blessings with the people of Guatemala, so made two fuzzy fleece blankets and sent them with the mission team from Lawrence Park UMC, Erie, along with a little note that was signed by each of the children. I thought it was a wonderful way to connect kids with kids, so had it in my mind right from the start to give these blankets to two children. When Kevin asked the Guatemalan missionaries who they felt needed the blankets the most, they immediately said, "Manuel, Miguel and Maria," three elderly people who live in Buena Vista. So, with my limited vision, I immediately thought, "Yes, lovely idea, but it has to be kids!"  It didn't take long for me to realize that it was more important to listen to the Guatemalans, who best know the needs of their people, instead of insisting on finding two children.

Miguel lives by himself and has a board, basically, to sleep on. He's thin as a rail. There is barely anything in his small one room shanty. He attends the ministry Faith Lessons most weeks and has an infectious smile. You can see in the picture that, upon receiving his blanket, he is very touched by the gift.

Miguel and Maria's home is sparse, as well. They have very few earthly goods and no comforts in their home. They had a flour sack to cover with when the weather got chilly at night. So the fluffy blanket is such a blessing to them. Because Miguel and Maria's roof was, well, MISSING in some areas of their house, the guys from the ministry took supplies to Buena Vista and, along with the help of some local children, built a more secure roof so they they wouldn't be rained on during the six month rainy season.

So, it was quite evident that God had a plan for those blankets! What a great opportunity for the children in Pennsylvania to see that elderly people need love and care just like kids do, and God has given us all the responsibility to share our blessings and love with them, too.

And me? Well, these fuzzy blankets reminded me that sometimes we, with our limited vision, need to set aside our "we have to do it this way" plans because:
"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8