{"id":882,"date":"2016-07-17T21:39:15","date_gmt":"2016-07-18T01:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/jonathan-heidi-bamford\/?p=882"},"modified":"2016-07-18T10:07:20","modified_gmt":"2016-07-18T02:07:20","slug":"generous-neighbors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/jonathan-heidi-bamford\/2016\/07\/17\/generous-neighbors\/","title":{"rendered":"Generous Neighbors"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was a kid, long before 9\/11 and fear of terrorism, I remember the
\ngasping noises my parents would make when they were pulling into the
\ndriveway and saw an unmarked paper bag sitting by the front door. They
\nweren’t afraid of what might be in the bag. They knew exactly what was in
\nthe bag; dozens of monster size zucchini. Our generous neighbors had scored
\nby leaving an anonymous gift.<\/p>\n

Unbeknownst to those anonymous neighbors and to my parents who helped us\u00a0children to learn to enjoy eating squash, saying, “If you finish your plate
\nof zucchini you can have dessert;” they were training me for my future life
\nas a missionary.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

[Auntie Pinang and Uncle Gabino giving us Squash]<\/p>\n

Thanks to the great tropical climate, we can have squash all year round.
\nOur generous neighbors often share their squash with us. They are really,
\nreally generous. Uncle Gabino will bring us part of a raw squash at 5 pm
\nand will often show up again 7 pm with an additional gift of cooked squash.<\/p>\n

Heidi has the routine down. “When your plate of squash is gone, you can have
\ndessert,” she says. Thanks to my great upbringing, I’m happy to comply.<\/p>\n

Prayer Requests:<\/strong><\/p>\n