Inventory is never a fun part of any job, this year as we faced a warehouse downsize, inventory certainly was going to be a bigger challenge than ever. We counted and sorted and the trash pile grew. There were lots of useful things that had been sitting on the shelves not selling, in some cases for years, we needed the shelf space, so they were getting the heave ho. So sad, these were perfectly good products that had huge potential to help someone. I asked my boss what his plans were and he said he would like to donate them somewhere but did not know where to even start. WAHOO... I jumped in and told him that I would ask my connections in Niamey, Niger, West Africa if they thought the items could be of use. Doc Ace assured me that he thougth the items could be put to good use.
That was all I needed to hear, we were off and running. I packed up the "trash" and took it home. Thankfully my husbands office has this HUGE empty basement area that we are able to store things if we need to. So off to his office went the 5 very large boxes of "trash" to be stored untill I could figure out how to get it to Africa. Worst case senerio it would take a couple of years and return with team members heading back after some time home in Canada in 2013. I was o.k. with that - but kept my ears open and let a few people know that I had things to send to Niamey. The prayers went up and I waited...
God had a much faster plan. Just before Easter, my momma called to say that they had a speaker at their church from Niamey, and that she was going back in a week. YIPPEE! I sent of a quick email, asking her if she had room in her suitcase..and if so would she mind taking a few items with her. Not only did she have room, she was only travelling with one suitcase so I could send a whole FULL suit case with her. God certainly was putting the pieces of the puzzle together. So I packed up 48 lbs (limit is 50 - but you never quite know how close scales are. so better to be safe than sorry, or paying the over weight charge.) of wrist supports, knee braces, cervical collars, walking boots and a few other odds and ends. Said a prayer that they would get into the hands of those who can use them and off they went.Yesterday I received an email from Deborah an occupational therapist that works at Galmi Hosptial, several hours outside of Niamey. The Suitcase had arrived at the hosptial yesterday, simply marked Gamli, with no "attention to" or proper address, they had no idea what it was, where it came from or who it was for. Peices of the puzzle, coming together yet again. A doctor at the hospital opened it, took one look and said, this is for Deborah. She was over the moon excited - and stated that she had been praying last week about their need for wrist supports. The suitcase had just what she needed, God had answered her prayer BEFORE she prayed it. I had picked the trash, packed the suitcase and sent it on it's way BEFORE she even uttered the prayer of need. How utterly cool is that? God is in the business of BIG PICTURES, He sees them and put the peices of the puzzle together in perfect order.
I sit in awe, I am blessed beyond measure to be part of the big picture. I wonder how the pieces will fit together for the next suitcase, there are still several boxes good "trash" to go. Secretly I hope and pray I will be able to carry it and deliver it, to see in person the final destination. A girl can dream. In the meantime I am happy to put it all together at this end so that our trash will be someones treasure. Blessing all who are part of the BIG PICTURE.
