The Gift of Love Goes on Giving

Sarah and Jonas - Brooklyn Bridge, NY

I met Sara Goff online and asked her to share her story.

Back in 1996, I was working long hours as a buyer in New York's fashion industry. In the evenings I began working on a vague idea for a novel. I felt empty inside and wanted to make a difference in someone's life.

I tried different areas of voluntary community work but nothing filled the emptiness. One evening, alone in my Manhattan apartment, I sat on the floor sobbing and praying in earnest, "God take my life and do something with it. I've gotten this far, but you can do so much more. here I am use me for some purpose."

After several years before my life began to change. I lost my father to cancer and then I changed my job in fashion just to pay the bills. I found more time for my writing and pursued that.

Shortly after, I met Jonas. he became not only the best friend in my life but my husband. We rented out the apartment and travelled the world.

 

 A trip to Kenya opened my eyes to a level of giving I had not witnessed before. I met a young Masai girl whose generosity planted a seed in my heart for charity that finally bloomed. At this time we lived with our son - just a few months old - in Sweden where I had time and space to think. I felt the urge to seek out new relationships through a worthwhile project.

I knew of struggling schools in Kenya and a care centre for street kids in the Philippines. Sara eventually set up a website to give these children the opportunity to express their creativity and individualism and in doing that instilling hope and confidence.

The answer to many prayers became Lift the Lid, a registered US charity that is building classrooms, a science lab, a lunch program, sanitary guidance to girls, books, and writing competitions. All to give a voice to underprivileged students by publishing their writing.

Thank you Sara. A beautiful story of how God uses ordinary people to change lives.

JOEY'S QUIET WAR

On her parents' death, Josefina was brought up by her grandmother on a coconut plantation in the Philippines.
When she grew she went to live with an uncle in Manila. There she met a young doctor who fell in love with the lively girl. She reciprocated and they were married.

But in the winter of 1941, when her daughter Cynthia was two years old, Joey began to lose strength and her appetite. Swellings appeared. Her anxious husband called a specialist. As gently as he could he told her the truth. "It is in an early stage, and there are promising treatments, but your child could be susceptible, so you must leave her." For hours she sat in the doctor's office praying to God for the surpassing self-control she would need for so many years in the future. Cynthia was sent to her great grandmother.

Husband & wife then began to plan their fight against the disease and against the ostracism of the dreaded leprosy. They learned she needed good medical care and rest.

There was to be neither. Three weeks later came the destruction of Pearl Harbour. Soon Japanese soldiers swaggered on Manila's streets. A contact of her husband told her  the Filipino underground was sending information to General MacArthur in Australia. "Will you join us?" he asked. "I can't do big things, but every little thing helps, " Joey said. "Okay!"

Joey was permitted to bring food to starving Filipino and American prisoners. With disease advancing, she radiated courage and faith to the hollow-eyed troops, some of whom gave her information they had gleaned from talkative Japanese guards. Once a suspicious guard menaced her with a bayonet and then tugged at her braided hair. Her hair ribbon concealed a prisoner's report, but thankfully didn't slip off.

She experienced scores of close encounters but the Lord watched over all her attempts to help the underground. Once she was given a bag of "vegetables" by her husband who also belonged to the underground. She learned later that the exploding Japanese ammunition dumps had been given the "vegetable" treatment. As time passed her face became scarred and bloated and sores appeared. Many a guard stopped her as she carried on her work but shrank back at the sight of her.

At the war's end she was decorated by the US government with the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palms - the highest award for war services by a civilian. She was also presented with a medallion in recognition of "Christian fortitude and concern for fellow sufferers."

Joey Guerrero finally arrived in the the United states for successful treatment of her leprosy.

 (Story from Thomas Johnson)