When Receiving Becomes Giving

by Jodie Schooley, R.N. - TOA Medical Director

A few weeks ago we took the older TOA kids to another local orphanage in town, that specializes in caring for babies and toddlers. The purpose of this visit was to give our children an opportunity to serve others as well as to give them insight into the conditions of other orphanages. They brought clothing and blankets to give to the children and spent time helping take care of the many babies that live there.

The above photo of Irene, one of the children here at TOA, feeding a baby at that orphanage, reminds me of this verse found in Matthew 10:8 - “Freely you have received, freely give.” Our children were able to be a blessing to someone else because they themselves have been blessed.

One of the reasons I came to live and work in Tanzania was because I have received the love of God. I have seen the power of that love transform my heart and life, and I wanted others to be able to experience that. I received salvation from God freely, with no strings attached. So I am able to freely give His love to the children at TOA with no strings attached.

When you give freely to these children, you not only change their lives, but you enable them to reach others. They freely receive the love of God through your prayers and financial support and now they are empowered to do the same for others. I think we would be amazed if we could see how far one offering or one prayer goes! Our God is amazing in His ability to take one seed and multiply it.

Thank you for freely giving to these children the blessings that you have received from God. Remember that it is touching many, many lives for eternity!