Soon the project
began looking for volunteers to sweep and clean park areas. Car
washes at a local store with kids wearing the tee shirts, were done
in a few areas.
“Mothers
for Development,” began to have bake sales, sending their little
cute children door to door. “Who can turn down these little kids.”
On
Monday through Thursday, students were able to fill a coffee can that
had the names of there favorite player on the football team., The
amount of money would be your vote. The player with the most money
wins. The money would be donated to the project. It all was seen as
a win, win.
It
seemed like to Paul, there was a test every Tuesday in one of his
classes. He was getting to busy with the friends and back packs. He
was finding it more difficult to get an "A" these days, but he managed
to do it.When
he arrived home his cell phone's ring tone blasted the “Batman”
TV theme song. It was the owner of J.T. 's grocery store.
“Hello
Mr. Thompson.”
“Remember,
you can call me Jack. Anyway, I was wondering where you wanted the
backpacks delivered. My son usually takes care of these things. But I
said I wanted this one personally.”
“You
can have them delivered to Franklin elementary school over on Walnut
St. School's started, I imagine they need those as soon as possible.
Mr. eh, Jack, you have been a great help to us and the people that
are in need.”
“When I hear the
name Paul Anderson or Project: Nehemiah I want to be a part of it.”
“Thank
you sir. It's been God doing this just like in the book of Nehemiah.
I'll let people down but God is there in everyone's mess. I pray that
He will let us be a part of what He is doing.”
“That's
right. Tell that youth pastor of yours, the ice cream will be there
for the Back to school rally.”
“Okay,
thanks again and keep praying.”
In
case he forgot, Paul sent a text to pastor Will, right then about the
ice cream. He was thinking there was so much to be involved in and
a large list of items to coordinate. Why God had given it to him was
a mystery. He knew from the Bible and the youth group Bible study of
the Book of Acts, that God uses normal people and empowers them to do
the tasks and mission. He went over to his Bible and opened it to;
Acts and wrote: “Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
through the Holy Spirit!”
Another
Monday at school rolled around and there were fliers everywhere
about the need of back packs and ski caps. Mr. Johnson had added
that they would be giving caps and gloves away even to their own
students, made available through the community club and project:
Nehemiah.
Paul
went to look for his coffee can, but he was not winning for Mr.
Football, but there was a large amount of money; change and dollars in
each can.
Paul
joked within himself thinking: “I guess you have to be the
quarterback to win anything around here.”
“Paul Anderson
.Please report to the office. Paul Anderson, report to the office.”
He
didn't like to have much attention drawn to himself. The school loud
speaker was not helping.
“What
you do now Anderson? Cheat on a test?” some one yelled. Shrugging
his shoulders, Paul headed to the office.
“Who
wrote this?”
“One
of the teachers, Paul. He is against the school participating with
your Project: Nehemiah.”
“But
it's helping so many people. Kids for that matter. Isn't that what we
are supposed to do, love other people? He is against that?!”
“Well,
not so much the help, as it is the school and The Bible, Nehemiah and
everything.
He
told me that he might be getting a lawyer, if we don't stop this
immediately.”
Paul
and the Principal both felt like crying. It was frustrating that
someone and so far only one person could stop so much good. What could you do? Do you feel angry or throw up your hands and quit.
“That's it.” Paul thought. “It's over, there is no use trying
to help people if people are going to slap you right in the face. Why
is there so much hatred in the world? After practice, I'll just go
home today, watch TV and live my own life. What's the use."
“I
suppose that's it then." He said aloud.
"I know these things drag out and win or lose,
we are the ones that look like the haters. I'll let the others know
and......”
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