In 2005 I took a trip to El Salvador just to learn about what Compassion International does for kids in the developing world. I didn’t plan on coming home different. But this morning I’m typing to you from a house a third the size of the one I blogged from five years ago. How’d that happen?
I’ve played with Compassion kids in six countries now: El Salvador, Ethiopia, Uganda, Dominican Republic, India, El Salvador again and Kenya. And every time I get home there are unexpected consequences – not as dramatic as after that first trip but small changes of heart, mind and budget that add up. Literally.
Becky finished our taxes last night and only then did we realize just how big these small changes have turned out to be. We accidentally gave away over half our income last year. What??
I say “accidentally” because it’s not like we had a goal in mind you know? And I never would have set such a ridiculous impossible goal. We just very very slowly changed, lived a tiny bit more simply, and then a tiny bit more, and a little more. And along the way we gave when we saw somebody or something that needed help – if we had it to give. And, well, wow!
Unintended consequences. Unexpected goodness.
God did this! With some assistance from my savvy former-accountant wife and her mad ten-key skillz.
What unintended consequences have you seen? What incredible unexpected things has God done in you? After that mission trip? Or reading that book? Following Compassion’s bloggers? Or being one of them? How has God changed and surprised you?
Write a post about the unintended consequences you’ve experienced and share it with us by putting your name and the URL of that post in the box below.
If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment!
Looking forward to reading all the stories of God’s unexpected work in our lives.
Kelly says:
I’m not surprised ya’ll gave away half of your income. You are an inspiration to me.
Coming into 2009 – knowing we were facing a lot of medical bills from our NICU stay and knowing we were losing half our income – I worried not about how we would make it but about how we wouldn’t be able to give.
Well – doing our taxes I was amazed at how much we had been able to give this year when I thought it was a year we would be able to give very little. But I was also sad it wasn’t more. I hope that 2010 it will be a LOT more.
You can NOT OUT GIVE GOD!
Renee says:
My son is 22 yrs old. He has his masters degree in business. Born & raised in a Christian home. My husband is an elder in the church and I am a deaconess. My dad is an associate pastor at the same church. My daughter is 15 1/2 beautiful. My son has come to us and told us he is gay. Consequences I am speechless and soooo hurt. How can this happen and why does this happen? We will persevere however our hearts are broke. Don’t know until we see our savior face to face what our consequences will be. Did we do this bringing up kids in a Godly home thing wrong? We pray not. However we will continue to pray and press on. Thanks for even asking we feel well numb right now. We happen to love your music and minisrty keep up the good work for Gods Glory. Have a blessed day!! Until we meet you on the other side we will keep you and your family in our prayers. Renee
Lindsay says:
I can’t even describe the consequences of following the Compassion Bloggers in words. Except that I can say it’s good.
I’ve been changed, and I don’t ever wanna be the same again.
keith says:
I’m so surprised that I don’t want to talk about it in public yet, but I’ve been changed through reading you, Brant, a couple of guys named Andy, a guy named Pete, some authors some of you have recommended, and my own experiences.
Sarah says:
When I got home from my very first trip with Compassion (to Kenya and Uganda), I quit my job in marketing and moved to Colorado Springs to work at Compassion’s headquarters. It was an interesting perspective… I was mainly at a desk, staring at a computer screen all day. The very non-glamorous side of Compassion’s work. But absolutely necessary. I’ve since moved back to my hometown, gotten married, and had children. But I remain ever so grateful for the hundreds of people who work so hard at headquarters, who rarely get to see the ministry in the field… touch a child’s hand, see their smile… yet it canNOT happen without them. I’m so glad I got to experience that side of the ministry. Helps me understand that not everyone’s called to live in Africa or South America or Asia. But what we do here – everyday choices like the ones you and your wife and your kids are making – can make that ministry in Africa or South America or Asia possible. Thank you for inspiring others to make a difference, right where they are, in any way they can.
Chrissy says:
My first link (above) was accidental; sorry! The second one leads to the actual post.
Kelly @ Love Well says:
We don’t give away half our income, but we are being audited by the IRS this year because they don’t believe our charitable contributions can be valid. Apparently, we just give too much. It makes them suspicious. (I blame you, Shaun.)
That’s not to puff us up, because honestly, we are still working this out. Old old house, which is twice the size of the townhouse where we currently live, has been on the market for 3.5 years. We need that to sell before we can implement any more stages of simplification. But we feel good that we are at least headed in the right direction.
John says:
Awesome testimony of God’s provision. God rocks.
misty says:
I am loving reading all these!!!
Kris says:
Last year my husband was laid off and when it was tax time I was amazed at what little income we were actually able to live on when we had no choice. Now that we have a choice, I hope to be able to give like we still have only one income and use the second income as God directs.
I found you from Kristen at We Are THAT Family. Love the blog, makes me think and usually laugh.
Thanks!
Kris
Ryan Detzel says:
I had to switch accountants this year because the guy doing our taxes over the past couple of years has called me an idiot for giving away too much money. Haha.
Kelli says:
As a married couple, we are still learning to make these little changes…still learning to let go and being challenged day by day to do so more and more.
As a 15 year old, I went on my first mission trip to the former Soviet Union. I came home changed and determined to go back. And I did, several times. Then I minored in russian in college. It came easy to me, oddly enough. But I never felt called to missions nor did my husband.
And yet, no matter where I go, I run into Russians and right here in my own backyard and have been able to minister to these people that I love so much. Now my kids are learning russian and are growing up with a passionate love in their hearts for these people.
All because of two weeks in 1994 that changed my life…
Jen says:
Shaun and others,
I greatly admire that you are going against the grain of our culture and for the example you are setting. Here’s something I have been struggling with: So what do you do if a husband (who makes all the money and “doesn’t feel called to give it away”) and a wife (stay at home mom who makes no money but wants to give more) are not on the same page here?
Christi says:
Great post, thanks Shaun.
We are THAT family says:
A good friend of mine (in real life) called me today and said “Don’t read Angie’s post (Bring the Rain)!” I had already told her how inspired I was by your choice of a simple life. She was afraid we’d agree with Angie, move out of the our affluent town (also known as The Bubble).
Funny thing is, my hubby and I met with a realtor about an hour before she called.
I’ve been rescued from wealth. And I’ve never been more satisfied.
(I was going to link up that post-thanks to whoever did it for me)
Katie says:
Jen, give your time and your prayers.
Stacie says:
I think the biggest “unintended” is my kids! Just when we are justifying a splurge or a new item, they are the ones holding us accountable. It makes me smile, but there are days I know I can brew my own coffee but Starbucks just tastes better in their cup..:) Home grown accountability partners!
I pray we can continue on this road. It is a blessed one….
Thanks for all the inspiration Shaun. Awesome.
Sherry says:
I am so impressed with your simplicity posts. You have taken some pretty challenging steps, and your taxes prove it! You are showing it can really be done (with humor and responsibility and maybe some fun).
I wish that simplicity would be the next big “thang” in Christian churches and studies. We need to get a more accurate perspective on how much we really have, and then make the connection between our affluence and the world’s poor. We need to encourage one another in this.
Unintended consquences–our family has been called back to steps of simplicity so that we can do more for our Compassion kids & families. A small evidence? last night’s trip to the grocery store was about $60 less than usual….because we didn’t buy extra stuff like snacks & luxury items we don’t really need, and we’re cooking simpler meals. Woohoo! We’re saving to send a “family gift.” We don’t miss the other stuff at all.
Thanks for this – would love to hear more about simplicity.
(BTW, washing dishes by hand vs. full dishwasher load is generally considered, well, a wash from an energy/water savings standpoint. We live in an arid region, and the dishwasher takes much less water than washing by hand. So I’m ok with using my dishwasher thoughtfully. 😉
Linda Thomas says:
Your message, Shaun, and comments left by others, are so encouraging. My husband and I are old folks now but all the time we were raising young children — and growing up children — we pinched pennies and lived in a small house with hand-me-down furniture and we drove old, old cars and all those things — you know what I’m talking about! — so that we could support various missions causes. We ended up spending 3 years with a mission agency in South America when our kids were little, and then after our youngest graduated from college, my husband and I moved to Kenya with the same mission. The people and their desperate needs, and their enormous faith, work their way into our hearts and we can never be the same. (I read every word of every blog from Compassion’s recent bloggers on their trip to Kenya!) I just published a memoir about my first 4 years in Kenya. Interested? If so, contact me about it and about my blog.
BLESSINGS to you, Shaun, and all those who work with Compassion International.
Leigh Ann says:
God has radically been changing me since my first trip to India in ’08. I see him doing a massive move among his people right now, teaching us to release ourselves from our wealth and self-indulgance. It is so amazing to watch him work and a little crazy and scary all at the same time. But what a cool God!
Chrissy says:
I linked to a post above (thanks for removing the “accidental” one!), but your post got me to thinking about how God has worked in me in that particular situation since then. So, after thinking about it, I wrote an updated post: (http://believersbungalow.blogspot.com/2010/03/transforming-love.html)
I’m thankful to Him for continuing to work in me, perfecting me & sanctifying me. He is faithful & will bring this work in me to completion.
K says:
I’m working on writing a post to go with this one but with two little ones right now, I’m finding it hard to finish it.
However, both my husband and I found this very encouraging. Would love to be giving away half our income and we are wondering if you could post sometime on how you got to this point, specifically some practical ways you spend less in able to give more.