Albania Aid
Taking encouragement & support to Christian missionaries across Albania
"Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds" Hebrews 10:24 NLT
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Taking encouragement & support to Christian missionaries across Albania "Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds" Hebrews 10:24 NLT |
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THE BAGGIES
The baggie is such a simple item; it is easily misused and often misunderstood. However, when properly used, it becomes a versatile and valuable tool. Gift giving is a custom that transcends both times and cultures. The Bible is full of accounts of gift giving ranging from Abraham who gave one tenth of all he owned, to Jesus and the “wise men” that came bearing gifts. Gifts are given for varied purposes: to show love, respect, honour, and sometimes to gain favour. Our hotels and airline companies attest to this as they pass out the goodies to their favoured clients. The amazing baggie can serve all of these purposes and more. The baggie is not an accident. It has been developed, tested repeatedly and improved over the past 10 years that we know of. Today, the baggie consists of a one-quart Ziplock bag that contains soap bar, shampoo and a skin lotion or cream. It is further individualized by adding a tooth brush with tooth paste, a packet of seeds or a razor for men, a brush or sewing kit for women, & a small toy if it is for a child. Each bag will also include a laminated picture from the life of Jesus or a gospel tract of some kind. (A one-quart bag is 8" x 7.5", but a one-litre bag 20 cm x 20 cm (8" x 8") would do instead) This kind of gift is always well received if used as a “hostess gift” when visiting the home of an indigenous family. They appreciate your thoughtfulness in bringing the gift and the gift also includes a message. The laminated pictures offer an opportunity to explain a simple Bible Story and will be kept and treasured by the family for years. Many times when we go back for a later visit, we see these pictures hanging on the wall. The baggie serves as an icebreaker during a first time contact. It instantly brings a new chemistry into the relationship. We have used it hundreds of times in the market place where the vendors see us as “cash cows” passing by. Everything changes when we stop to say: “I don’t care to buy anything but I have a gift for you.” They respond with immediate shock and ask “A gift for me?” This is too good to be true. Who ever gave them anything before? So, at this point if they are given a baggie, they will respond with smiles and will be ready for further conversation and friendship. A very similar approach can be used in the villages. In this case, a passing encounter on the street or at the market can turn into a long conversation and friendship if started with “Good morning”, “Oh, I have a gift for you”. And it goes on from there. The baggie has also been used in both school and day care settings. It has been used to enhance special occasions such as “Mother’s Day”. On this day the children are all eager to honour their mothers and if they receive a baggie while at the school or daycare, they are overjoyed to take it to present to their mothers. It can be used as a reward item for graduation or for passing to the next higher grade. It can also be used as a gift at Christmas time. The baggie has also been used to reward attendance or participation. We have given them out following a weekly Bible Class – just to make the whole experience a little richer. The baggie can also be used to reward and encourage positive behaviour. In the U.S. we frequently receive a toothbrush and toothpaste at the end of our visit to the dentist. This is to encourage our behavior. A baggie (hygiene kit) given to a patient leaving a medical clinic can encourage positive behaviour in the same way. It can be the basis for a hygiene lesson. It may also encourage the patient to return for a follow-up visit. If they hope to receive another baggie so much the better. Another purpose of the baggie is to “Plant seeds”. Whenever possible, we like to talk about the contents of the baggie, especially the picture. However, even if that is not possible, most people seem to know that this is a picture of Jesus, knocking on the door, or Jesus, leading his sheep. If receiving this baggie is remembered as “A positive Christian contact or experience”, the person is more likely to be receptive to the next contact with Christians. The giving and distribution of the Baggies is only half of the story. The other half has to do with collecting the materials and preparing the Baggies. First, nearly all the items that are used to fill the Baggies are available to us at no cost. Our friends and neighbours have been collecting this stuff on all their travels for years and often have drawers full of it. We just have to ask for it. Nearly all missionaries are eager for support from home. This means both prayer support and financial support. Sometimes it is hard to know how to ask for it and later, how to maintain it. The soaps and shampoos that go into the Baggies serve to form a direct link between supporters and the missionaries. We have found that after speaking to a group of almost any size or kind, it is very easy to ask people to remember us in prayer and to bring us all the stuff they have been collecting in their travels. The response has been totally amazing. This is something that almost everyone can participate in. There is usually an initial flood of stuff that is brought to us and that is not surprising. What is surprising is that week after week in the following years, we continue to receive bags of supplies from the same people. This means they still remember our ministry and us and they want to be actively involved. Not only that, they spread the word among their own circle of friends. Each time we receive a bag, we are reminded that we have not been forgotten and that people are still praying for us. What an encouragement! The second part of the “at home story” is the preparation of the Baggies. After the stock of “raw materials” has built up, it’s time to have a work party to assemble Baggies. If the work party can involve members of the next short-term mission team, so much the better. The time spent assembling the Baggies will be team bonding time. It will also focus the thoughts and conversation to where these things are going and the people who will be receiving them. Even if the work party includes people who won’t be going, it gives them an opportunity to share in the work and to be involved. It all comes under the heading of building the network and getting the support and encouragement we all need to carry on. If you have never tried using the baggie idea, you might like to give it a try. If you do, we’d love to hear how it worked for you. Joe Weatherstone - Wxstone@sbcglobal.net Ruth Maher - Rumah1@juno.com |
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