Cottage Ten Gives Back
By John Sweet
In a society that is ever expanding the commercialization of Christmas, and a nation that is laced with hedonism. It is refreshing to see children, who despite horrible circumstances dealt them by their natural caregivers, become aware of other children in poor life conditions and feel compelled to give sacrificially to meet a need. This is the phenomenon that is occurring in the cottage with lead houseparents Keith and April Underwood.
The Underwood’s live with boys from the ages of nine to thirteen in Cottage 10 – South Georgia Plantation Cottage on the Church of God Home for Children Smoky Mountain campus. These boys come from various situations of abuse and neglect. This is their story of giving.
The boys were introduced to missionaries Cecil & Dawn Deel in September of 2007. They were filled with wide eyed wonder, as the Deels shared their stories of ministry from the Philippines’, a small village in Africa, the native American Indians, and many more. Seeing videos, and pictures of these journeys, they were stirred to the point of taking action, and take action they did.
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Residents of Cottage Ten |
Through saved allowances, and inspiring a few other people, they were able to send the Deels to Oklahoma to minister with an additional $300 for the children to have Christmas. The boys have come to know the Deels as Papa and Gram. They have adopted them as grandparents. While most children are excited to see Gram and Papa, knowing that some goodies will always come, Cottage 10 boys anticipate new stories of ministry. The visit prior to this one, the Deels shared the story of how they were able to supply the resources to bring running water to a village pastor in Africa, saving a little baby’s life.
The knowledge of the impoverished conditions that other children endure around the world, inspire the boys to pray for others, and be thankful for all that God has blessed them with. Seeing these boys recognize the bountiful nature in which God has blessed them, should motivate us to spend…spend more time thanking God for all that we have, spend more resources supporting ministries. God calls each of us to `present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service’.
What a remarkable story, there are several things that are important to note. We are thankful on the COGSMCH campus that we can provide a place for these boys. We are thankful to have houseparents and staff who are willing to pour their lives in to these children. We are thankful for the growth that is evident; when children can grow from hoarding food because of poverty and neglect to a heart that is willing to give it is remarkable. Your investment in hurting children is paying dividends at The Home.
Dr. John Sweet is Program Director for the Church of God Smoky Mountain Children’s Home.
