iPads Like Loaves And Fish

This is a story within a story about the amazing ways in which God works.

About a month ago, I shared the following story with my church family:

I'd like to share a story with you from JOY Ministry where we share the love of Jesus with individuals who have special needs and their families. A few months ago, I was hanging out with one of our students in the Joy room during Sunday service. This young man has autism and does not speak, but has a very active mind and greatly enjoys his time at Joy. We were playing one of his favorite computer games when I noticed that he had stopped playing the game and was instead typing letter after letter as the computer repeated the letters back to him. 

As I continued to watch, I realized that while he could not speak, he could type out words. I asked our director if we had a text-to-speech program that he could use.  She had an iPad with an app that would read back whatever was typed into it. I began typing into it everything I said to this young man. Then, when he wanted something, I handed it to him and asked him to type out what he wanted. Next thing I know, he had typed out, "iwantgoldfish." I don't think we've ever dished up goldfish more quickly than we did in that moment. The iPad had given him a voice. Suddenly, he did not have to rely on our guessing about what he wanted. He could tell us himself. As I left that day, my mind raced over the possibilities. We now had a window into his world - a window that could lead not just to conversations about goldfish, but to conversations about Jesus as well.

As I thought about it, I felt God leading me to pray for an iPad for this young man and his family. I did not know how to make it happen, but could not shake the feeling that I was somehow supposed to help get one for them. I shared the goldfish story with my parents and they in turn told my 90 year-old grandfather. He turned to them and asked how much it would cost to purchase one. When they told him, he said, "I can do that," and pulled out his checkbook. A few weeks later, I was able to surprise this family with their very own iPad...and found out that it was something they had been praying about for a long time! It was an incredible experience to get to be a small part of God's provision for this family! I am constantly amazed by the ways He chooses to work through His church.

Through this process, we have learned what a benefit iPads can be to people with special needs. They are extremely portable and easy to use. And though text-to-speech and picture board apps, this piece of technology can give a voice to someone who is otherwise silenced by their special needs. Because we have several individuals like the young man in my story, JOY Ministry would like to obtain several iPads for use here at the church on Sundays and during Respite care. We are willing to look at any offer that's out there - old or new, donated or possibly sold at a good price. We want to give them a voice! If you are willing to contribute to this effort in any way - including cash donations - please talk to L__. No help is too small...if we all pitch in a little, we can work together to give a new voice to the amazing individuals who participate in our JOY Ministry.

Immediately after the first service, a lady I had never met before came up to me and asked where she should direct a check to help purchase the iPads. I was so excited that someone had been inspired to chip in! Three days later, the director of JOY emailed me to say that we had raised $725, enough for 3 (older) iPads. I was amazed. Two weeks later, she told me to sit down for the following story:

She had been walking through the church lobby and saw a gentleman who was new to the church reading one of the JOY brochures. She stopped to talk to him and show him the JOY room. He asked about the iPad effort, saying he had been there the Sunday I had shared about the need. She told him how excited we were about the three iPads she had been able to order. He asked if that was enough for the program. She told him it was a blessing, and when he pressed, admitted that we could really use two more. On his way out the door, he asked one more time if we really just needed two more. She thought about what we could do with four, but felt a check and confirmed the two because she did not want to ask for more than the knew we could absolutely use. On his way out the door, the gentleman handed her a check and said, "Here's your two more and a little extra." She opened it and it was for $1,000…enough for the four she really wanted!

I was floored (still am, actually)! God took a prayer, a simple story and the gift of my grandfather (who lives hundreds of miles away) and multiplied it beyond what I had dared to hope for - like the loaves and fish Jesus blessed so many years ago (John 6:1-13).  It's such a vivid reminder of how God can take even the smallest offering and turn it into big things for His kingdom.  No matter how old or young, rich or poor you are, never underestimate God.