Everyday Heroes: generosity for a stranger

I heard a story on the radio recently that is worth repeating.

There is a family somewhere in America who has been struggling with unemployment. Both parents lost their jobs within a few months of one another. They have continued to look for work, but nothing has materialized for TWO years!

They used their severance to pay bills. When that ran out they tapped savings, then retirement. They have depleted their resources and have been unable to pay the mortgage on their home. This is not an uncommon story in the USA these days. What happens next is uncommon and is the reason for this post.

This families story was featured on the news during a report on the economy. A stranger was sitting in their living room watching the news report. The stranger didn't think, "wow, that's awful. I am glad that's not me (or us)." Something about the look on the teenage daughters face in the unemployed family moved this stranger to action.

The stranger is a father, a business owner - and the business is doing well. This man who was sitting in his comfortable home watching a news report, decided to do something. Do something - he did. He committed to pay the mortgage for this family. Not just so they don't get kicked out right now. He is going to pay the mortgage for TWO years!

WOW!

just Sheri, awed by the generosity of a stranger

NOTE: The Everyday Heroes series is intended to draw attention to kindness. It's purpose is to share stories of normal people engaging in acts of kindness. Why? Because I believe kindness is what changes the world.

oral health: unintended sacrifice

In case I haven't mentioned it enough, Kenyon and I moved back to the U.S. late last year after serving as missionaries for a short time overseas. We made some intentional sacrifices in choosing that life. We continue to choose some intentional sacrifices. However, we recently learned that there were also some unintentional sacrifices.

Kenyon and I had excellent teeth before moving overseas. No cavities. For me, it was the blessing of genetics as I was not the best at caring for my teeth. Medical care is difficult to come by in the places we lived recently - not available to the masses, and what is available is expensive. We had medical insurance, but it mostly covered catastrophic occurrences and included medical evacuation just in case. Dental was a luxury unavailable to us. Our medical coverage didn't cover us in the US, so even when we came home on leave it was unavailable.

Fast forward to the present, we have each seen a dentist in recent weeks. The news was surprising. Kenyon has double digit cavities. I have fewer, but one will require a root canal. Ugh!

My dentist tells me it is a combination of things that caused this. Her suggestions were tied to the water we drink while living overseas.  Foreigners can't drink the water in most places, because it would make us sick. Thus, we had a purified water dispenser in our home for drinking/cooking water. Apparently what was supposed to keep us in good health had an unintended consequence - bad for oral health. I am told by my dentist that the lack of fluoride, plus the existence of iodine in the water was the winning combination.

Her suggestion was to take fluoride tablets with you and add them to the water bottles. Now if only I had that bit of knowledge a few years ago. It wasn't in our orientation packet or any book I read in preparation.

I share this for my friends still serving around the globe and for those considering a long-term stay - add fluoride tablets to the packing list, your teeth will thank you.

just Sheri, about to schedule a root canal

lychee fruit

Would you eat this?

Apparently most Americans shy away because of the spiky outer shell. But, tear in to that and there is a sweet, refreshing fruit in the center. I had my first lychee fruit in Thailand many moons ago. I have eaten many over the years and became fond of the juice too. On a hot day in the tropics, it is refreshing! Thankfully I can still get them at my favorite grocery - Global Foods. I am attracted to them now because seeing one produces fond memories of far away lands...I have yet to experience Cambodia hot outside of Cambodia.

Recently I was hanging out with a group of people. One of them from India, one from Laos and two Americans. I was one of the two Americans. The Indian had tried to introduce lychee to his American friend. But the friend wasn't having it. Myself and the Laotian encouraged him to get past the exterior, because what is inside is tasty.

My fellow Americans hesitancy did make me question who was the first person to discover the gem inside the lychee? I certainly wouldn't have tried it solo. I tried it because I watched others eating it and I was curious.

Have you eaten a lychee? did you like it? would you be willing to try it?

just Sheri, still loving the fruits of the tropics

Albert Schweitzer on life choices

"Only a person...who has no thought of heroism but only of a duty undertaken with sober enthusiasm, is capable of becoming the kind of spiritual pioneer the world needs. There are not heroes of action - only heroes of renunciation and suffering. Of these there are plenty. But few of them are known, and even they not to the crowd, but to the few..."

Sacrifice. Consistency. Virtue. I have had the privilege of meeting many individuals across the globe who exhibit these traits. These are the unsung heroes that are changing the world.

just Sheri, grateful for the dedication of others

birthday celebration(s)

I celebrated a birthday this weekend...well, I actually celebrated ALL weekend even though it was only supposed to be one day (Sunday). Thanks is due to my wonderful family and friends for making this a special birthday.

I returned from a work trip on Friday night. What greets me? Presents! My mom and dad had each sent me something from New Mexico - my mom sent a giant box. It was sitting in the entry way and it was a great surprise...like Christmas in September.

In fact, she spoiled me rotten as she also had flowers delivered to our door - arriving Saturday. I LOVE flowers!

Also on Saturday my student surprised me with a homemade cake. It was pretty enough to decorate a wedding table - and tasty too!

Saturday night was the only planned event. Kenyon had invited a few of my girlfriends to join us for dinner. Phim made the dinner party extra special. When we arrived, there was a large "Happy Birthday" balloon and my second bouquet of flowers for the day - happy flowers.

She also had a gift basket of some of my favorite Asian foods - tropical fruits like mangoes and lychee. She included ingredients for Pho, green curry and panang. I tore in to the lychee before we even ordered food. Mmm....

This is my friend Vanessa. You may recognize her from a previous post. We met when she was a graduate student at KU and I was working there. That feels like an eternity ago. A lot has happened since then! She is from Brazil and has been in the DC area on a short term work contract. This was her last weekend in the DMV. I am soooo glad she came to celebrate with us. I am going to miss her, it was such a treat having her close.

If I am going to get two bouquets of flowers in one day - why not two cakes?

The celebrations continued in to Sunday with a lesson in "indigenous" green curry preparations - then a feast while watching the premiere of my favorite show - Amazing Race. Monday I was still getting presents. The most surprising was from one of Kenyon's co-workers. A woman I have never met gave me a gift I love - a book. I love books, probably even more than I love flowers. I got a lot of love by email from all over the globe. How I miss the precious people I have met along the road.

Last year, we celebrated at a Thai restaurant in Maputo, Mozambique with some of my missionary friends and national colleagues. A lot has changed in a year!

just Sheri, another year older