Hi neighbour! Want to eclipse that heart-breaking item of news you may have heard a moment or two ago by something more exciting, heart warming and inspiring: November 1-7 has been declared Generosity Week by the East Jamaica Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists! Tell it to the world! A whole week when everyone is expected to be generous to everyone? You heard right - not farfetched by any stretch of the imagination. Come on everybody, let's jump on the band wagon and go for it! Yes we can!
According to Pastor Adrian Cotterell, a leader in the Conference, many communities across the island will witness and experience tangible expressions of generosity from thousands of Seventh-day Adventists engaged in this exercise. Addressing an audience of predominantly Seventh-day Adventists last Saturday, he said that the church community will be visiting infirmaries, golden age homes, children's homes, women's crisis centres, etc., distributing toiletries, sharing positive thoughts, words of wisdom and hope among other life-giving activities.
The pastor told his audience that no one should sit by and watch people go hungry. Amen, pastor! Hunger is part of the reason for the evil of anger in the society. There are many broken lives without friends to help them along - someone to help bind their wounds. There is a great need to show generosity to many of these neighbours from whose lives, joy has departed.
"Those of us who can see, must be eyes for the blind and those among us who can walk must be feet for the lame," Pastor Cotterell reminded the congregation.
To top it off, he called on the church to be a practical example of kindness which is Christianity in action - kindness encourages the discouraged and transforms foes into friends.
Make a difference
I firmly believe that every citizen can make a difference by practising deeds of kindness: share a meal, share a thought, and share something of value with a neighbour. Persons who are afraid to give or just do not understand the principle, need to know that "a simple act of kindness brings greater blessings to the giver than the receiver". Kindness breaks down religious, political and racial barriers. Let's all join this bunch of considerate Jamaicans and make November 1-7 Generosity Week.
Visit and share with someone who is lonely or bedridden. Buy a box lunch for a hungry child - make it a point of duty to call and encourage some one. Just be extra generous this week. Generosity is contagious!
Reminder
Remember: Giving is a shield which protects the giver from poverty.
Have a great "neighbourday" and a greater Generosity Week!
Many thanks to the following neighbours who extended themselves to help their neighbours last week:
1. Ann-Marie for offering a computer to a young neighbour.
2. Mrs Jones (St Andrew) for offering clothing and a 36" electric stove.
3. Mr Cross for offering a wheelchair and chickens to neighbours.
4. Maria (Growing & Giving - St Andrew) giving clothing, bottles and blankets to kids up to five years old.
5. Mr Taylor (St Andrew) for giving away a three-piece second-hand settee.
6. Oneil (St Catherine) for offering a refrigerator to a needy neighbour.
7. Adeen (St Andrew) for connecting with Angella (St Catherine) who was burnt out.
8. Natasha (St Ann) for offering ladies' shoes and boys' sneakers.
9. Lorna (St Catherine) also giving sneakers for physical education.
10. Anonymous persons who delivered clothing and shoes to the Hello Neighbour drop-off centre at 19 Balmoral Ave.
Here are opportunities to help neighbours:
1. Myrtle, Kingston, an 80-year-old senior citizen living alone, is asking neighbours for a second-hand television.
2. Denise, robbed of all her belongings, wants to open a nursery to help generate an income while providing care for children whose parents have to go to work. She needs cribs, play pens, etc.
3. Novelette, St Catherine, met in a motor vehicle accident and is unable to walk. She wants help to finance eight children through buying and selling small items. She is asking for neighbours' assistance.
4. Angela, St Catherine, lost a house and household items and clothing to a fire recently. She is asking neighbours for second-hand replacements.
5. Hazel, Clarendon, a 75-year-old senior citizen asks a kind neighbour to help replace her dentures which were destroyed recently. Eating is problematic.
6. Elesha, mother of four, has a daughter who passed for a high school many miles from home. She is unable to cope with bus fares and is asking for a neighbour's assistance.
7. Sophia, Westmoreland, has a son due to graduate from high school next year. She doesn't have the money to pay for his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations. Her situation is desperate and she is asking for neighbours' help.
8. Miss Chamberlain, has already paid three-quarters of her Bible college fee but is unable to find the rest. She needs a neighbour to help with the $15,000 now overdue.
9. Marva, St Catherine, mother of three needs a mattress and dresser for her family.
10. Miss Miller, Kingston, lost her job about a month ago. Needs a little food for self and three-year-old child.
To help, please call 906-3167, 884-3866 or 373-7745 or send e-mail to: neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link up. Those who desire to make financial donations to this project may make deposits to Acct # 351 044 276 at the National Commercial Bank. Bank routing ID: JNCBJMKX.
Remember: Giving is a shield which protects the giver from poverty.