I was telling a story this week to a friend about the first Mesem book of scripture ever published. It was the Gospel of Mark. I told a story that many of you might not know, but which touches me to this day.
One morning I spoke at my home church and at the end of the service one of the ushers came over with tears in his eyes. He had ring. He said, “I don’t know what to do. This woman said to me, “I have no money to give but give this to that missionary” and she ran out so fast I didn’t get her name or anything.” Then he handed me a beautiful ring. It was delicate ring with red stones.
I was leaving the US the next day and asked my father to have it appraised but the jeweler told him that it was not his area of expertise because the ring was antique. I realized that gift, which I knew to be great was a greater sacrifice than I initially imagined.
Ultimately, we sold the ring for $220. We felt that a gift so precious needed to be used for a special purpose. In 1995, we bought the paper on which the Gospel of Mark was printed with the proceeds from that ring.
If you go to our website there is a video of that dedication and part way through I appear, much younger, dressed in PNG clothing and the story I am telling is how the first gospel was given to the Mesem, by a woman who said she had nothing to give.
I am not sure who she is, nor if she ever knew. But I know that great sacrifices do reap great rewards, and though it was sewn in her tears, it will be harvested with rejoicing. And if you who gave that ring are reading this, please get in touch….
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