Gifts from God by Devin Wisman

Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
During a mission trip over the summer to the Bahamas, I was given the opportunity to help out with the weekly Soup Kitchen provided for the homeless people in the area. It was an experience I will never be able to fully describe.
About twenty people had gathered at the gates of the church waiting for food. The church pastor came out and we held a short fifteen-minute service. It was amazing to watch these people who had nothing praise God with song, prayer, and scripture. After the service, we began handing out food. The church volunteers told me to make sure that each person received only one bag. As I began handing out bags, I realized that I had to watch to make sure that they weren’t hiding a bag behind their legs and asking for a second. I also had to start watching their faces, as some people would get one bag, go around the corner to hide it, and then return for a second. It was heartbreaking to watch. All they wanted was a second bag of soup, and I was walking through a buffet line twice a day at our hotel. I served people young and old, families and individuals, children and the elderly. I had to fight back tears as emotion washed over me. It was almost overwhelming.
Eventually we ran out of food and had to lock the church gates again. I think the hardest part was to return to the Vacation Bible School we were teaching. We were working at the richest Methodist church on the island, so the children who came to the VBS were not hurting for money. They had the latest Hannah Montana t-shirts and were well fed. The snacks provided by the church at the VBS were quite large, so when I returned to the VBS during lunch, I found it very difficult to watch them throw away burgers with one bite out of them, knowing that starving people right outside the church gates would have done anything for that burger sitting in the trash. It was quite a mind-shock.
It is in experiences like this that I am reminded of God’s grace and my responsibility to His people. As long as I am capable, I know that I need to work to help those less fortunate. God has been good to me in my life. I am blessed beyond my knowing, and I need to use the gifts God has given me to share His blessings with others.