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Our family first heard about God’s Word for the Nations (GWFTN) nearly two years ago. GWFTN is an organization that translates the Bible for people groups that do not currently have a Bible in their own language. To help this great ministry, we keep a jar on our kitchen windowsill, drop in money at various opportunities, and when we have a sizeable amount, we mail a check to GWFTN and start over.

We started afresh this weekend, and this morning I noticed that we already had $5 and some change in the jar. As it turns out, Bubbles was responsible for the contribution. Polly told me the story: “Bubbles was trying to decide what to do with all the tooth money that she’s been saving. She said, ‘I can’t take toys to Heaven, and I can’t take ice cream to Heaven. But people can go to Heaven!’ So she decided to give her money for Bible Translation.”

This melted my heart. There is nothing that can bring me greater joy than to see evidence that my children are growing with a heart for eternal things and compassion for others.

Bubbles’ insights remind me of this quote by Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

I have been moved many times by the story of Jim Elliot. If you’ve never heard the story, Jim Elliot was one of five missionaries to South America, who were martyred in 1956.  The others were Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian. After the five were killed by the brutal Waodani people,  several of their wives, a sister, and children chose to continue the efforts of the martyred men, living right among the Waodani. Their efforts were not in vain. The Waodoni people listened and believed the gospel, and were powerfully changed. This tribe who was so violent that they nearly killed each other off were transformed. If you would like to know more about this amazing story, I highly recommend Beyond the Gates of Splendor, a very tastefully-done documentary about the lives of these faithful, brave men. It tells the story beautifully and includes interviews with the wives and children (all still living today), a lot of photos of the men and their families, the plane, and the Waodani people. If you happen to be an “in real life” friend of mine, I have a copy of the video I’d be happy to lend. If not, Amazon does have it in stock: Beyond the Gates of Splendor DVD.

Jim Elliot was certainly no fool, and demonstrated with his very life that he really believed that what he believed was real. I pray that my life and my family’s lives will be a living testament that our faith is genuine as well. The faith of a child who gives her every cent so that people in other nations can have a Bible is a beautiful beginning to a life of faith.