Dustin and Sara Gonzales

Four-and-a-half years have passed since Sara, Diga, and I (and the not-yet-known Dona) have left the state of Minnesota to make our living in Texas, with its warmer weather and closer proximity to at least part of our family.

This past July, I was in communication with the wife of one of the late elders of the church in Mankato with whom we had worshiped. She shared with me that a new couple at church whom we had not met was interested in being one of our supporters. What??? We had not even sent a request to the church here. She also shared that the church was considering supporting us as well.

That was completely unexpected. The church in Mankato has always had its needs provided for, and could provide assistance to those in need, both through church funds and through individuals. I would not have intended to divert funds away from the congregations own mission and needs, being small in number. What a blessing they are! Some individuals let me know that the church would consider increasing the congregational level of support. Others informed me of their own personal intention to support us! I drove away from the building this afternoon with warm fuzzy feelings in my heart.

I did not come here with any kind of fundraising intent in mind. I came for a work trip that I was thankful to make. I did not even bring materials to share, or a presentation. They did ask me just to talk about what we were doing and answer any questions, and that’s exactly what I did, in my own un-polished manner, for a few minutes at the end of Sunday’s class. Even before, and in our initial greetings, I was flooded with well-wishes and thanks for our intended future.

It really made me think as Paul did of the Macedonian churches in 2 Corinthians 8.

“During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.”

I wouldn’t say the Mankato church is in the same situation of poverty or affliction as those churches, but if they were, that heart is still present in the church. And we are truly, truly, thankful.