Sheila Sims Iding
I have to start by saying this isn’t a sad story or a pitiful story. Tim wouldn’t want it to appear that way…nor would I. His life in China is different than ours. He will tell you teaching English at Beihua University was never his dream job. Not even close. Most of us who know Tim, know his dream job. But in place of that elusive dream is his humble mission…the chance that someone, somehow, somewhere might know Jesus through him. His job at Beihua University gives him a chance for that purpose in China. He is grateful for that…and so am I.
Still his life in China is different from ours. His pay is minimal. He makes ¼ of what I make and I am a Catholic School teacher. (Enough said.) He gets paid twice a year…not twice a month. And he has to pay the rent for his apartment a whole year at a time…in June. Sometimes the time frame, the schedules and the finances don’t line up. This is one of those times. So you make sacrifices. We have all had to do that. But he does his more willingly and reflectively than most.
I had sent him an email telling him I wish I could do more. Maybe buy him some groceries, or give him a Starbucks card for coffee or just take him to dinner. He sent back an email full of lessons. In part his email said….
“My financial situation is a good experience for me. I am not afraid of it because I know if I had an emergency people would lend or dad could wire. But I want to face it alone. I am walking a lot and just purifying my desires a lot. Even keeping my love for coffee in check. A lot of water and rice. And having a chance to pay the widow's mite by still giving something to the church. Through prudent sacrifice I am now sure that I will be fine until my paycheck comes. I hope to carry the experience with me forward when I am financially secure again. Maybe it will serve me well later as a DRE who can relate in some form to having a really simple budget. It will be nice to afford tea again. But it is a good monastic like experience with God and I am better for it.
Love you miss you GbGs
Timothy
Rice and water…widow’s mite…purifying desires…better understanding of those in need…closer to God…better for it.
And…I am better for it because he has used his wisdom, humility and faith to teach me…again. I know he looks forward to the day when he can afford tea again. I look forward to July when we can have tea together….and maybe that cup of coffee. Then I can thank him in person for all that…he teaches me.