May 30 2011
The Power of Doing Something Unplanned!
Recently I was driving down the road as I made my way to
work. I had just returned from Africa where, once again, my sense of social and
spiritual equilibrium had been rocked by a chance encounter with another world.
As I was driving I passed a bus that which was decorated with the title, “Two
Ladies and a Bus!” My guess is that it is a charter service but I suppose the slogan/title could represent other
business ventures; none safe to mention here.
I love catchy slogans and phrases! There are a lot of them
circulating out there in the “look at me, listen to me “world of marketing. I
think I first started noticing such things in the eighties when the Little Old
Wendy’s Lady asked, “Where’s the Beef?”
That slogan may have been singularly responsible for introducing the new
age of marketing targeting. Since then a cadre of commercial colloquialisms
have hit the scene. Make it funny, odd, unusual and people will look and
listen. For instance, the NFL Superbowl is as much, if not more, about the commercials
as it is about the game. All the commercials employ many kinds of odd, funny,
not so funny, and unusual tactics in order to leave us with a catchy new phrase
that will guide us into the next year of consuming habits.
Not all slogans make it to this level however and I doubt if Two Ladies and a Bus is going to make
it to the Superbowl. In fact it is the first and only time I have seen or heard
such a slogan or the bus for that matter. The important thing here is that I
noticed. The slogan worked. I doubt I would have noticed if the bus would have had the title Margaret and Emily and a
Bus. Then again maybe I would have. When I searched the title on the internet I
learned a great deal more about the innovative ladies who own “the bus.”
I think this particular slogan is a derivative of another local slogan/business title proffered
by a local moving company called “Two Men and a Truck.” I have seen this title
several times and almost immediately could make the connection between the
slogan and the intention. The ladies and the bus move people; the men and the
truck move things…I think. The irony of these two slogans/titles is that they
helped me process the equilibrium shattering moment I had recently experienced
in Africa.
On the last day with our Spring Break team to Limpopo province our team was asked by our regional coordinator if we could do
something…well…unplanned! Andries, our coordinator, has a network of caregivers
who live in the various villages and serve as the eyes and ears and hands and
feet of Horizon in those villages. They look after our orphan children staying
in touch with them and reporting to Andries any needs or other issues.
Andries had just learned the day before, from one of his caregivers, about a couple of young boys who are living in desperate conditions and he asked if our team could stop by to visit and assess their situation and
pray for them. It wasn’t on our schedule for the day but we sensed that it was
a “divine appointment” we couldn’t miss. When we arrived at the “house” of the
boys it didn’t take long to assess their situation. The oldest boy is 17 and
his younger brother is 13 years old. Their mother died 7 years ago. They are
living by themselves in a rundown shack at the bottom of a hill which allows
water to literally run through their “home” when it rains. When we went into
their home we noticed that what possessions they did have were elevated off of
the ground so as not to get wet. The house itself is made of old wood and tin and
allows rain to come in through the “roof.” There was little, if any, food in
their home.
These brave boys have been living by themselves in these
conditions for at least 7 years. Their mother died when they were 6 and 10
years old respectively.
That is what I was thinking about when I passed the bus
which had the slogan, “Two Ladies and a Bus” which reminded me of the title,
“Two Men and a Truck.” I was thinking about “Two Boys in a Shack.”
The irony is that they have very few possessions to move and
nowhere to go.
The good news is that after we visited and assessed and
prayed and encourage those 2 boys, members of our team donated money to rebuild
their home and also committed to become monthly sponsors so that they could
have food, clothing, and whatever other care they need. Thank you guys.
Sandy and I thank you for allowing us to be involved in
helping children such as these.
This story can be repeated thousands of times over. If you
would be willing to help make a difference for children like these please visit
our website and check out the Sponsor Me button.
Stay well and
Dance with God
