Vendor Spotlight: THE SMITH'S

A Bible teacher / mentor of mine once said - "We are not trying to raise our children to follow in our footsteps; we are trying to raise our children to follow Christ."  That means they may not make decisions as we would, handle their money in the same way, raise their kids as they were raised, or choose a career/life path that makes us comfortable. She also says that the process of releasing our children is WAAAAY harder than the process of raising them.  (Lalalalala - I don't wanna think about it.)

The second mom in my story of "two amazing moms" is Allie. She has been raising her daughter, Parker, to follow Christ for thirteen years now, and for Parker's thirteenth birthday she got what she wished for - a mission trip to Africa. Allie said she wanted Parker to see that there is more to this world than what we have here in Jackson - that God could take her anywhere. And to see that He is everywhere.

I had the joy of making the trip with these two, and I saw Parker come alive with my own two eyes.  She was undaunted by the unknowns of international travel and the lack of (ahem) "amentities" in a third world country. In fact, she loved the simplicity of it all. I watched as she embraced the new culture, new people, new experiences. And some of those experiences were not easy to embrace. She and I were seeing suffering and devastation like we'd never seen - me, 25 years older than her. And yet, she did not shrink back. In fact, she said she could stay there forever.

I haven't ask Parker this, probably should, but it seemed to me that she felt useful in Africa. That, perhaps, God has made her for something like this. She loved loving on the children at the center where we stayed. And they loved her. She seemed to feel completely at home in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Maybe someday she will be.

Now is obviously not the time for that. But neither is it the time for nothing. I remember the night Parker and I were sitting on our mosquito net covered bunk beds and she said, "Miss Angie, do you think I could make enough money babysitting to sponsor Alford?"

Of course you can, Park. You can do anything God calls you do to do, by His grace.

Alford found a special place in Parker's heart the first morning we were at the center. This photo was taken as we were walking back from the welcome ceremony that the children and staff so graciously held for our team. Somehow I knew to snap a picture - that this was a significant moment.

Parker now sponsors Alford. For her forty dollars of monthly babysitting money she is able to help provide for Alford's physical needs and send him her love through letters and monthly Skype sessions. If you read my story on The Raining Season, you already know my deep love for this organization and the sheer genious that is their sponsorship program. You can go HERE to find out how to become a sponsor, too.

Allie says that Africa was the first time she's ever seen Parker smile THAT smile. It looked as though this young woman's soul was filled to the brim and overflowing. What better 13th birthday gift could a mother give her daughter than realizing the pure joy of following Jesus?

This weekend at the Marketplace the Smith family will be working The Raining Season's booth and all profits from this booth go to TRS. They will also have merchandise of their own to help fund their next trip to Sierra Leone, hopefully this summer.

Here's a sneak peek at some of what the Smith's will be selling. Just give them some scrap wood and a little yarn....