Bringing Joy to Others

from Health & Home (March - April 2023)

KINDNESS Ripples

It is often said that “JOY” stands for three things: Jesus, Others, and You. This simple acronym reminds us to put Jesus first in our lives and reach out to others; then, we will find true happiness in our hearts. In the flurry of our daily lives, it might be a challenge to go out of our way to bring happiness to people. However, we at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) know that it doesn’t cost much to put a smile on someone’s face. Allow us to share the last time we brought joy to someone.

We go around various institutions to share how one can become an ADRA Angel or a regular donor. After one particular session, a woman approached me, asking for the sign-up form. She filled it out and handed it back to me, saying, “If I had known about ADRA before, I would not have wasted money on online shopping! Thank you for the opportunity to share my resources and help change lives. I will be an ADRA Angel until Jesus comes.”

Indeed, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). People are more than happy to share their blessings through ADRA!

Shantell Leigh Villapez Marketing Officer

As an ADRA staff, I feel blessed to be a channel of help flowing from thousands of donors worldwide to numerous disaster victims. Bringing joy and hope to them is another meaningful blessing.

The struggle, though, is to continue doing it in my personal life.

Recently, I delivered some souvenirs to a young supporter who was about to leave for work in Germany. I drove to the airport, bringing souvenirs, a calendar, and a winter jacket.

Upon meeting her, I hugged her and asked if I could pray for her as she embarked on her new journey. When we finished, she had tears in her eyes. She said that it felt comforting to be prayed for because it had been a year since she left her home church, and she missed praying with a close-knit community.