A thermometer, perfume and marigolds

Sally Schroeder Isaak

Every Christmas, I send a small parcel to a dear family living in a remote jungle area of Argentina. Only once have I had personal contact with this family of five people. That was in 1984. The children are now young adults. Every year, I face the same dilemma. What do I buy? If the parcel is too big or the contents too expensive, my friends will have to go to a city 50 miles away to pay duty. That would be counterproductive. On the other hand, since my modest gifts are often the only Christmas presents these people will receive, I want to send something that will bring them joy. On various occasions, I have asked for a Christmas wish list. This has been only partially satisfactory. It seems to cause shame or embarrassment. So I rely on the Holy Spirit.

Several years ago, when I had already bought presents for each member of the family, I noticed a thermometer. I felt a strange urge to buy it. It seemed a silly thing to buy, so I ignored the urge and marched on to pay for my purchases. The urge persisted. I succumbed and added the thermometer to the gifts. Several months later, the head of the household thanked me for the Christmas presents, making special mention of the thermometer. To add to their meagre income, they had decided to hatch baby chicks. The thermometer had been just what they needed to keep the incubator evenly warm.

Last year, I had already bought and mailed the Christmas presents when the wish list from Argentina arrived. Imagine my surprise and joy when I read that Elizabeth, now a teenager, had asked for some perfume. That is just what I had chosen for her.

On another occasion, I added a small package of marigold seeds to the package. The flower-loving mother, Leni, wrote such a rapturous letter of thanks that I was embarrassed. It turns out that she had been very discouraged while hoeing her garden in the intense heat just before they opened the parcel. Marigolds are her favourite flower.

Christmas shopping for people overseas is not simple. Nevertheless, buying presents for my friends in Argentina and mailing the parcel in early November to make sure it gets there on time gives me great safisfaction and pleasure. It also puts me into the right mood for the rest of my Christmas buying.

I have sent a Christmas parcel to Argentina every year since I returned to Canada 10 years ago. It has always arrived on time, nothing has been stolen, and my friends have never had to pay duty. That is a cause for thanksgiving.

Sally Schroeder Isaak is a former MB Missions/Services missionary with radio station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador. She and her husband Frank are members of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C.

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