The Marble(ous) Miracle

While in Panama, taking books purchased with generous donations, to a reading program called Loco por Leer I was blessed in a way I never expect to be blessed again.  Robb Pickett, the head of Global Humanitarian Adventures was with me as we went to see a possible site for a new resource library. The library will be filled and cataloged by groups I will organize and bring down from the US. The site began as a feeding program in a slum of David, Panama and has grown into much more. I am looking forward to my work there and hope some of you will be joining me.While I was in conversation with Father David, (everyone who is educated speaks English, you can drink the water and the roads are good!), Robb was playing with the kids. One little boy had 10 marbles and taught Robb how to play. They only had about 5 minutes of “play time” before it was time for us to leave. That is when the miracle occurred. The children hugged us all and the little boy reached deep into his pocket and gave Robb 3 marbles. 3 marbles. All he owned in the world were those 10 marbles and he gave 3 to Robb. Robb looked at me with tears in his eyes and asked me what to do. What do you do with that sort of generosity?  Robb thanked him profusely and began to get into the car. Senor, senor, the little boy called to Robb. Robb assumed he wanted his marbles back and got them out. The boy reached deep into his pocket again and gave Robb 2 more marbles. 5 marbles. Half of his total worth. What do you do with that! That sort of generosity is unheard of. That sort of generosity is life changing. That sort of generosity is the story of the widow’s mite acted out in front of me.I don’t know yet how my life will be changed by that one event. I just know it is changed and the impact will reverberate in my soul forever.

Susan Aldrich

GHA volunteer