God has gifted some of my friends with over-the-top ingenuity. When resources are limited, they possess a special capacity to make things happen. A 1980’s-era TV show featured a hero who could solve any problem with a roll of duct tape and chewing gum. In similar fashion, we have a facility engineer at Hope Haven Rwanda, Sylvester, who creatively jumps in to help miracles happen when something needs repaired.
Earlier this week, I snapped a photo of a young man running down our road with a very creative toy made with the top of a 5-Gallon plastic container, a wire and a twig. I wanted to ask the boy if I could take it for a spin, but I was afraid I’d embarrass myself!
I appreciate the way Bezalel’s gifting was described in Exodus 31:3-5: “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” God has graced every human being with core gifts and our unique life experiences offer opportunities to grow and develop our gifts in new ways.
A few days ago, Collins, one of our instructors, showed our family how to make a football out of banana fibers. He began by moistening the banana leaves, then tearing them into strips and pouring water over them. Next, Collins took a plastic shopping bag, stuffed it with banana leaves and began wrapping banana fibers around the bag. As he worked with the fibers, he shaped it into a ball and wound it tightly with very thin twine. When I asked Collins how long he thought the ball would survive, he responded, “Even up to one year!”
Minutes later, students were kicking the ball around our courtyard, laughing, chasing and tripping one another with contagious joy! Collins used his ingenuity to make a contribution to his community and it was beautiful.
How can we serve others with the gifts that God has given us this week?