A Cup of Cold Water

Many years ago we did our missionary internship in a small town called Altamira in the rain forest of Brazil. One day an elderly street vendor came by our door, pushing an old wheelbarrow and barking his limited wares of garden produce. After Vivian made her purchase, the vendor asked for a cup of water. She gladly went to get it for him. When Vivian handed him the water, the vendor reached down and carefully poured the precious water onto the squeaky wheel of his wheelbarrow! She couldn’t believe her eyes! How could this insensitive man waste a whole cup of refreshing, cold water to lubricate his wheel? Didn’t he realize the costly effort that cup of water represented? It had been boiled on the stove, filtered through a porous stone in a clay water pot, and finally cooled in the refrigerator, now only to be poured out on a dirty, old wheelbarrow!

When we arrived in Altamira, we unconsciously assumed that our Biblical knowledge, ministry skills and dedication would be greatly appreciated by the needy people there. Surely they would be anxious to drink in our sincere teaching and preaching, even if our Portuguese needed minor corrections from time to time. Although some did come to appreciate us for these assets, we soon discovered there was another level where many folks needed encouragement and help. It was the reality level of the squeaky wheels, the immediate needs faced by our new friends carving out a living in town and along a road in the middle of the rain forest.

“Thank you, Sr. Carlos, for your Bible study this evening! Could you please give me a ride back to town tonight with my three sacks of pumpkins to sell at market tomorrow?” “We are from Km. 62 and the kids are sick with malaria. May I tie up my hammock in your living room to sleep at night after spending the days with them at the hospital?” “I work long hours at the bank, and even though I don’t attend your church, I sure would like to study inglês with you if you could teach me one evening a week”.

Two cups of cool, clear water offered in Jesus’ name. One to quench spiritual thirst; the other to toss on a squeaky wheel. Both equally important in graciously carrying out our internship assignment in Altamira for the glory of God.

“Thank you, street-vendor friend. You didn’t know it, but God used you to teach us an important lesson that day!”