My Perspective: The Joy of Giving

By Peyton Holliday

For years I had dreamt of going on an international mission trip—my goal was to go before I graduated high school. So when Zamar Student Choir announced we would be going to Belize with Thirst Missions in 2016, I was ecstatic!

As we began to prepare for the mission trip, my excitement grew. We would be singing in schools, visiting classrooms, doing concerts in parks, and sharing the gospel in a third world country!

Before heading to Belize, I needed to pack. I quickly learned that packing in a backpack for ten days is not an easy thing to do. It took much frustration and pulling out unnecessary things before I got my backpack “perfect.” I was exasperated because I could not fit my Bible into my backpack. After pulling out several little Bibles from my bookshelf, I found one at Wal-Mart that was exactly what I needed. It was a purple compact Bible with large print.

Trusting God’s Timing

When we finally arrived in Belize, I was so glad to be there. The first few days went well, but by the end of the week I was a little upset because the Lord had not put a person in my path that I could really minister to. Finally, at the last concert and our last night in Belize, the Lord put someone in my path. It was as if the Lord had something special planned for me and it involved that little Bible that I’d grown very attached to over the trip.

The young lady’s name was Heidi. At first we talked about famous Americans that she knew, the type of music that she listened to, and comparing our cultures. While trying to plug in Christianity and ask her about Christ, someone leaned over and asked me to ask her if she had a Bible (and handed me a Gideon’s New Testament).

I asked her and she told me that she did not have a Bible, so I gave her the New Testament. Heidi asked me to sign her name in it, and to write her a note. While writing the note I felt led to put the reference Amos 3:3. After writing Amos 3:3, I made the realization that she only had a New Testament and therefore could not look up Amos 3:3.

Heidi said it was okay that she only had a New Testament, but I felt the Lord prompt me to give her my Bible. At first I was a tiny bit hesitant, but then I ran for my backpack. (I am not kidding, I ran for my backpack!) I pulled the entire backpack over with me and began to dig for my Bible. I pulled it out. My eyes scanned it. I had become attached to it over the trip. I had notes. I had bookmarks. I had even a special note about the Bible being one I bought for my mission trip to Belize. I also had notes that a friend had given me in there. I had learned to love my pocket size compact Bible.

All of this went through my mind as I pulled the Bible out of my backpack. Before I realized it, I was handing the Bible to Heidi and telling her that she could have it. At first she was a bit hesitant to take it, but I insisted. I marked out my name and put hers in it.

Once I let go of the Bible, I felt such a rush of joy! I wanted to jump up and down and never stop praising the Lord! God showed me what a blessing it is to give.

[Editor’s Note: The Zamar Student Choir spent 9 days in Belize and gave 13 concerts. Thousands of people heard them sing and many gave their lives to Christ. They also handed out nearly 15,000 CDs throughout the country. The gospel went forth with power during their trip!]