Smiling, the student welcomed me into his apartment. He had come a week or so earlier to start his first semester of studies in this new land.
“I am sorry”, he began – self-conscious and embarrassed – “I do not have a comfortable chair for you”.
Nodding my thanks as he gestured to the straight-backed chair, I took in the sparse surroundings. My goodness, I thought, even though this is a fine campus apartment, it’s virtually unfurnished. Only a couple sticks of furniture rested on the pristine carpeting spread throughout.
That surprise ‘aha moment’ was followed by more of the same as I made my rounds to welcome newly arrived students over the coming days. It left me both astonished and bewildered. What could be done to alter this scenario? The question persisted.
How does a newcomer on a tight budget – a young person virtually unknown by anyone inside the host country – tackle the task of furniture shopping in this place? The hurdles grew in number
- No vehicle of their own (much less a driver’s license)
- No friend with a pickup
- Unaware of the uniquely American tradition called a ‘garage sale’
- The list grows
There is a God in heaven. So goes the quote.
Drawing on what imagination capital we could muster, our ragtag team landed on a purely experimental game plan and pinned a name to it. From then til now ICO’s annual Furniture Fest has kept gathering wind in her sails.
What’s more (in the perky language of an ancient TV game show), The Price is Right.
©2024 Jerry Lout
Thousands of students have been graced by this furniture outreach program. And how many of those came to know the Lord as a result of the many volunteers giving time and effort. Jerry, thank you for being available and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As one man said, it has been a wild, fun, glorious, impacting ride. Praise the Lord. Ken
‘The many volunteers’ – your phrase there says it well, Ken. How beautiful witnessing His family serving joyfully in a worthy endeavor. Thank you.