For a study guide see page 22.
ELCA makes a difference
I struggled to understand why I had accomplished what felt like so little when I knew God had a purpose for this journey. What was I supposed to learn from this?
would bring about healing. When I returned to the U.S., I
prayed for God to show me how to use my skills and passion for Christ to meet other challenges. Maybe God would answer with other new, huge opportunities to impact the lives of God’s people? Well, my big learning moment
arrived a little differently than expected. It came on Christmas Day in the
form of a simple email from a young man I knew in high school. I hadn’t spoken with him in 30 years. Back then I had given him an envelope of scholarship applications for a college education he never thought he would be able to afford. Nothing more. His email said: “… that one act
of kindness and selflessness you did for me was a life changing event. … I have thought of you from time to time, especially when telling my life story ... but I really just want to say thank you! Tank you for caring enough about me to provide me with a package of hope and a future.” Tough a small thing at the
Author bio: Karch is a senior epidemiolo- gist with the federal govern- ment in Atlanta. She worships at Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, Ga.
The ELCA works with Lutheran and ecumenical partners to make a dif- ference in the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
As of the end of March, Lutheran Disaster Response had received more than $840,000 for humanitar- ian assistance. So far LDR has used these funds to provide personal protective equipment, prevention education, food assistance and other help.
time—one I didn’t even remem- ber 30 years later—here was God’s response to my yearning to help make a difference for humanity. I began to understand that it’s not always for us to know exactly what will be made possible because of our love for our neighbors—a love that, of course, is our response to God first loving us. I also now understand that I don’t have to change the world.
The opportunity for learning experiences of a lifetime.
THAT’S THE VIEW FROM HERE.
amerin idell ’17 MAJORS – German and Marketing
2015 J-Term study tour to South Africa
Long-term recovery response will include support for orphans and youth, hygiene and sanitation edu- cation, work to strengthen health system resources and job creation.
To help, send checks to Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009 (write “Ebola Response” on the check memo line) or give by credit card at
www.elca.org/disaster.
God already did that through Jesus Christ. I am both called and free to respond to God’s love by wholly lov- ing God and my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:36-40). I realize now it’s the simple
things we do each day that change the world. So I pray and hope the small ways in which I serve and accompany my neighbors, near and far, will somehow make a difference.
carthage.edu LUTHERAN_AD_amerin.indd 1 May 2015 39
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