I had been feeling aimless.
I assume it was because after years of serving my heart out in church callings that required lots of time and energy, I have developed a NEED for service to be a part of my daily living in order to be happy.
And now that I am enjoying a respite from required service, I get to choose where I put my time and energy outside of my family and daily activities. Only I wasn't quite sure where I would be most needed.
So I know it wasn't a coincidence that just as I was feeling this way, I happened to watch "The Blind Side" again with my kids.
I was once again inspired by the story of the Tuohy family and how small things can turn into huge blessings. I was so inspired that I actually looked them up on the internet to find out more, and did you know that they wrote a book?
So did Michael Oher
So of course, I had to read the Tuohy's book. In the book they talk about cheerful giving and how it has changed their lives.
In an interview they were asked,
A: The Popcorn Theory is about noticing others. It’s about seeing, not turning away from the immediacy of someone in need. It starts with recognizing a fellow soul by the roadside-even if he doesn’t seem to belong in your lovely red brick neighborhood and he is the biggest damn piece of popcorn you ever saw and his problems seem too immense to take on. It’s about assigning that person value, and potential. Like popcorn, you don’t know which kernel’s gonna pop. They just show up. It’s not hard to spot ‘em. The Popcorn Theory goes like this: “You can’t help everyone, but you can try to help the hot ones who pop right up in front of your face.”
Q: What if I don’t have many resources? How can I be a cheerful giver without a bunch of extra money?
A: Too often we think we lack the means to improve someone’s lot. We’re wrong. The Popcorn Theory doesn’t require you to write a large-scale check, or to take a hungry boy with eyes like leaping flames into your household. But it does require that you perceive the person standing right in front of you, and extend a hand in kindness. (Courtesy of the Tuohy Foundation)
With this need inside of me to be involved in serving others, the Popcorn Theory seemed like a good place to start. I thought, "I'll just pray about it and wait and see what pops up in front of me."
I was not expecting what popped up next:
The faces of these Ugandan children.
Beautiful, capable, special children loved every bit as much by their parents and God as yours and mine are.
So you may be thinking,
"Why in the world would a stay at home mom from South Weber Utah have Ugandan children just pop up in front of her?"
This is John's brother Steve and his wife Tracy.
They have been a big brother and sister / mentors / friends to John and me since I married into the family 20 years ago. We love them so much.
And we miss them desperately as they serve and preside over the Uganda Kampala Mission.
Since they left last year, our family hangs on their every word as they write home about their adventures and experiences serving the saints and missionaries in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and South Sudan.
They have opened up my eyes, and my children's eyes to a whole new world, and a good chunk of the Collings family has been preparing to visit them sometime within the next year or so.
We have discussed how we don't just want to vacation, but also take the time to serve while we are there. The "Jigger Project" has been on our to-do list of something to do during our visit.
But with the Popcorn Theory at the forefront of my mind, I'm realizing that we can do so much more than just show up and help. It wouldn't be that big of a deal to bring badly needed supplies, or donate the simple $12 that is needed per child, or donate some used clothing. Without much effort we can share our resources to help out in a really worthy cause.
What is the "Jigger Project"?
Spearheaded by Sister Apondi, the wife of a bishop in the Kampala stake, this project helps provide school children with badly needed shoes, and volunteers provide them with health care by cleaning their wounds and removing the chigoe flea and eggs from infected hands and feet.
As a mother, this really gets to me.
I don't like to see my children or any children suffering
and I HATE bugs.
Bugs that infest the skin of children and cause them to suffer because they don't have shoes or supplies?
If my child gets a cut, I can go to my cabinet and give them a bandaid in seconds. If they need shoes I can get them very easily. In fact, we probably have too many shoes.
It goes beyond pulling at my heartstrings,
it stirs up something from deep within my soul that motivates me to action.
I can do something here.
We can do something, and it wouldn't take something huge,
just a few of us grabbing an extra few boxes of bandaids or soap during our next trip to the store.
(An example of the parasite eggs that are removed)
The last time my sister-in-law participated, there were over 90 school children waiting in line before they even arrived.
So as I have been telling my friends about this, I'm realizing others want to help too.
After contacting Sister Apondi, here's what we are collecting to take over with us:
Thank you to those who want to participate!
and also to those who already have.
We will be leaving a box on our front porch for any donation items, feel free to message me if you need my address.
If you prefer to donate funds, we have created a gofundme account called:
Uganda Service Project
Those of you who know us know that 100% of your donations will go towards this service project.
Here is my challenge to you -
It's okay if this cause does not resonate with you,
but
put the Popcorn Theory to the test and see what pops up in front of you.
Try it!
I have already experienced immense satisfaction from the small part that I have played,
I have no doubt that you will too as you reach outside of yourself and give cheerfully!
Much love,
Molly
