G is for GENEROSITY

It’s interesting to write about generosity on the heels of last week’s post on finances, given the two go hand-in-hand. Part of our desire to get out of debt was so that we would be able to give more. We’ve been blessed by other’s generosity in our own lives, and have been inspired by the example of many generous people around us demonstrated by their words, deeds and finances.

But make no mistake, you don’t have to have lots of money in order to be generous. In fact, the most radical givers I know are a young Khmer couple, Rotha and Sinath Chay. They live outside of Phnom Penh in Cambodia, with their two young children in an area surrounded by factories – where workers are overworked and underpaid in order to mass produce our cheap clothing. Rotha and Sinath run The Children of Joy school which predominantly serves children of factory workers, in addition to The Centre, where factory workers can learn English and computer skills in their after hours in order to develop new skills and hopefully become more employable. They also train and develop teachers there at The Centre.

For years they had students from other provinces who couldn’t afford housing and food stay with them, providing a home. A family. While Rotha and Sinath had little space and privacy, they shared what they had. They shared knowing it meant less rice on their own plate. They certainly don’t have much in North American standards, but unlike many North Americans, there is nothing stingy about them.

“God is a lot more interested in your willingness to give than your wealth, because He’s interested in what’s happening in your heart when you decided to give” (Rick Warren)

Twelve years ago Sinath started the school with three dollars. Three dollars. That alone is a lesson for another day - don’t ever be ashamed to give thinking your gift is too small to amount to anything. Sinath had a God-given dream, yet few resources, but that didn’t stop him from moving forward with what he felt God calling him to. Sinath chose to honour God with whatever he had. His goal was to serve his local community and to share the love of Jesus he experienced in his own life with others.

When Sinath first started this (unpaid) “venture”, he and a few friends started teaching English and computer skills in a modest room in a nearby factory that someone let them use. Rotha and Sinath met when Rotha was a student in Sinath’s class. After they got married, Rotha and Sinath continued to build this dream together. When the space at the factory was no longer an option, they rented a building in the community – using their own money, costing them almost everything, in order to continue the work they felt God calling them to do. Today, there are about 140 students enrolled in the Children of Joy school, which they charge a modest school fee for. Many of the students are on a “scholarship program”, subsidized by… you guessed it, Rotha and Sinath.

In Cambodia, there are no social programs they can lean on if things go awry. There aren’t free medical clinics or schools like in Canada. There’s no food bank to turn to if they run out of money before the end of the month. There is no fall back plan - no safety net. And yet, they continue to give, generously.

They give without expectation.

They give cheerfully.

They give their very best.

They give generously because they understand who their source is.

But more than just money, Rotha & Sinath are generous with their time. Classes run Monday-Friday with many students arriving at 6 am before their parents go off to work. The doors don’t close until after 10 pm, when the evening classes (English and computer lessons for factory workers) finish up. They host “Happy Friday” kids club after school on Fridays. About 100 excited kids join in to play games, and enjoy a snack. This club isn’t just for their own students, but is open to the community for free. For many kids in that particular area, this is the only time they really get to experience being “kids”. Saturdays are for Bible teaching and training 20 young adults from their local community in order to help develop their leadership skills, and on Sundays, the Centre is where people gather for church. Rotha and Sinath’s days are full.

Rotha and Sinath are incredible examples to me of what generosity is all about. Sometimes, their radical generosity makes me uncomfortable and I’d rather gloss over the fact that their giving requires sacrifice. It causes me to question my own habits and priorities. Am I holding onto what I have too tightly? Do I remember (often enough) who my source is and trust that He will provide for me?

Rotha and Sinath aren’t giving out of whatever’s leftover. Quite honestly, I struggle with that at times, wanting to ensure that there’s enough “left.” I have this incessant need to ensure that I have a fall back plan. It’s crazy. I’ve never gone without a meal due to finances before. I’ve never not had a place to sleep, or a closet full of clothes. I’ve heard a phrase going around, and I think it’s worth repeating, “giving is the antidote to materialism”. I start becoming content with the life I do have only when I stop measuring what I have (or don’t have) against others.

God calls us to be generous, not just with money. We can demonstrate radical generosity in giving our time, words of encouragement and skills.

I believe God calls us to live generous lives. After all, it’s part of who He is.

PS. If you want to help support the work of Rotha & Sinath and the amazing work they are doing in their community, I invite you to donate to their work at https://53997.thankyou4caring.org/partner-donation-pages/gc-stories-donation-page and be sure to select Rotha & Sinath Chay – The Centre as your designation (all gifts are tax deductible). OR, exercise your generosity by leaving a comment to encourage them in their work. The Chay’s have no idea that I am writing this post, so let’s be generous in our encouragement and support of them. If you don’t feel led to give to this cause, I encourage you to find a way to exercise generosity in your own life today.

#generosity