Twenty Dollars

I just purchased a soap dispenser for $20. That's right. It wasn't even in that little caddy thing shown above. It was just the one on the left with the blue liquid in it. It was from a friend who is trying to make some extra income through Southern Living At Home. But $20. I can't allow myself to think about it too much, but this is just the short list I have compiled of some things I could have done with that same $20:

1. For one month provided an entire village population of infants and children with:
- nutritious food supplements
- MMR immunizations
- basic healthcare

2. And for their mamas (same $20):
- prenatal and postnatal healthcare
- nutritional training
- parenting education

3. Purchase 2 mosquito nets for individuals living in high-risk malarial regions

4. Feed a family of 4 in India for an entire month

5. Purchase a phone card and send it to a missionary

6. Purchase Bibles to be distributed in an unreached people group

7. Fill an Action Pack to send to Sudan through Voice of the Martyrs (blanket, sweater, flip-flops, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, t-shirts. I would get these things myself, but the donation to send it can be of any amount)

8. Purchase 3 meals for the homeless guy on the side of the street with the sign that says "God Bless You"

9. Send a donation to Jeff Jackson, who is church planting and doing community development work with Karen refugees (displaced people group near Laos/Burma)who have been freshly "deposited" in Phoenix, AZ.

10. For the 22-year old Filipino mother I heard about last night who, out of desperation to feed her 3 children, has been forced to resort to prostitution (which pays about $4/hour). My $20 could have potentially saved her from 5 humiliating and degrading "sessions".

Wow. I hope that soap dispenser is worth it.

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:34-30