My Personal Coach

I just came back from a lovely evening in the city. One of the local churches held a purse auction. How cool is that? There were over 100 brand new and gently used purses up for auction - silent auction. The proceeds were going to help in a remote community in Nunavut.

The whole evening was beautifully choreographed - from the speaker, to the decorations, door prizes, food and fellowship.

The speaker was a missionary who has been to this community and who knows the heart-breaking needs that are there.  She was sharing about young women who are 23 years old and who are already grandmothers.  She told us that the suicide rate was 40% higher among young people there than in the rest of this country. It's very cold where the missionary has been ministering.  -40 is not uncommon. But what is sad is that what we take for granted here, where it can also get very cold, is just not there - winter coats, mitts, toques, scarves.  So she is doing something about that. Making sure that the people in this community are able to have what we take for granted.  She is making a difference.

And so were we - the ones who were there tonight!  We were making a difference. We were receiving the blessing.  Not only were we giving, but we were receiving. Blessings upon blessings.

I bid on a brand new, donated Coach purse. A business owner in California heard about what this church was doing and so donated 2 Coach purses.  They retail for $200 - $250.  My donation was only $60. And that was the winning bid!That small donation  is going to help the community of Nunavut. And I got a lovely purse in the deal. I would have made a donation even if I wouldn't have received a purse.

But now I have a tangible reminder; my "personal Coach". It  is my reminder to pray for the work and ministry of Elsie Welch.  Everytime I use my new purse I will pray for people whose needs are far greater than mine.  I will pray for Elsie.  I will pray for the Lord to move in this community, that before tonight was, for me, just a dot on a map.

May God continue to bless the ministries of people, like Elsie, who are shining their lights brightly and bringing hope to a world in darkness!

My Coach