It is now over two years since I returned from Africa but today my parish is doing a coin collection for Naomi Foundation in Eastern DR Congo. Naomi Foundation takes in children whose mothers have been raped by either the militray or rebel factions and then have been forced to give up their babies due to the stigma of the crime. I have spoken at all but one mass this weekend. I have one left tonight.
The chair of the refugee committee and I have done an initial count of the coins collected for three of the six masses. Approximately $900 has been raised for the Foundation. This is great news. The idea to assist came out of my dilemma when I visited the camp. What could I offer these internally displaced people as a sign of God’s hope and love?
Really, this weekend I have received much peace at the comments people have made leaving the church. One woman this morning said that she had no idea this was going on in our world. Another man, who may have been an African, said I had no idea what good I was really doing and that God will bless me for it. My response was that God already has. I made one woman tear up as I spoke. Little children came with fistfuls of money to plunk into the buckets. A few women opened up their change purses and shook the entire contents into the pails. One elderly woman last night mentioned that she gave everything she had but kept only a penny for herself. I was so grateful at this response from my parish. I know we have good hearts within our pews and that is a worthy cause.
I have also been blessed by the birthday wishes and the number of people who have said, as they drop in their coins, that I do not look fifty. What does 50 really look like anyway? This weekend will end the campaign that I launched in conjunction with my birthday for Naomi Foundation but I hope it continues and provides good support to the organization and the children who desperately need our help.
Peace,
Suzanne
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