My story of giving, by Lilllian Wenger                                                                          November 12, 2013

I have many reasons to be thankful that others offered their loving kindness  to me.  First, my mother who gave me life, but was never able to even hold me, as she had tubercolosis when I was born during World War II in Germany.  She died when I was five months old.  Then my mother’s sister, Anna, who took over my care, but even that was short lived.  Anna left me with her best friend to babysit me, as she went for a few days to visit her husband who was in the navy and had a short leave.  Unfortunately the war escalated and Anna could not return.  At the same time this friend  had to evacuate where she was living, taking me along with her own little children. This was in November, and as refugees travel was not easy, thus in a small town this friend told the officials there that she would need to leave me.  A family in the town  stepped forward and took me in, as I would not have survived much longer.  They took care of me for five plus years giving me their love.  

Anna and Otto ended up in West Germany after the war and then started searching for me.  Anna was able to locate me in East Germany  and came to take me away from the only mother I had known up to that time.  A few years later, Otto, Anna and I were able to immigrate to the United States.  Unfortunately  Otto died of cancer at the end of the same year we arrived in Philadelphia. 

After Aunt Anna and I moved to Chicago,  Anna had a mental breakdown and again I was very fortunate to be placed with a loving foster family, John and Lillian Marcoux.  However after a year, due to some financial issues within the family, I moved to another  family, just down the block, Carl & Erma Zager.  After a year this family was transferred out of Chicago, but I felt I needed to stay in the city as my aunt had visiting privileges. Both families had already conferred with each other, and now the first family could take me back. I was extremely lucky to have two such great foster families, with whom I have been connected all of my life.

In 2007 another dramatic event happened in my life.  I was again connected with the family who took me in when I was a baby.  I had not known their name or exactly where they lived so could never search for them.  I only remembered being told that I had lived in a town called Zwickau when little.  A couple, who came to Missoula through Friendship Force International, ended up as my house quests when I heard they were from Zwickau. After their return home they attempted a few ways to try to locate my earlier family, and low and behold they did it.   I have now visited Herta and her family, and Sigrid a couple of times and again gained this loving family back into my life. I have been truly blessed that so many people gave of themselves and their love, and allowed me to be a part of their lives.

My Story of Giving, By Marylor Wilson

It is the season of Stewardship!  Our theme is "Stories of Giving."  We are collecting stories of giving.  Send us your stories - write them down on paper, send them to us via email, video tape a story and send it to us!

Here's a story by Marylor Wilson, a member of our church and our Friday office volunteer.

It was the Sunday night dinner of one of our Family Promise Weeks ( a week when homeless families come and live in our church).  One family was a mother, a father, a two-year-old son and a two-week-old baby. The mother was still suffering from a very difficult delivery.  The father was entirely occupied with the tiny baby.

The two year old, a curly blond live-wire, couldn't sit still, couldn't eat, couldn't even play with toys in the usual way.  His mother (and the rest of us) were bothered and helpless in face of this tiny whirlwind.  His mother's threats were useless.  The rest of us didn't dare approach him.

Then, Ellen Marshall, who is University Congregational Church's Family Promise Coordinator, grabbed up the little bombshell.  I expected a big
two-year-old roar and stiff legged struggle.

But that did not happen.  He snuggled right into the curve of Ellen's arm with out a peep.  She carried him around the rest of the dinner hour, helping serve and clear dishes one handed.

Their two faces mirrored each other's pleasure and serenity.  It was hard to tell who was giving and who was receiving.

Stories of Giving

Stories of Giving…

What’s your favorite story about giving?  When have you received something of great extravagance?  How is giving incorporated into your daily life?  Who taught you about the importance of giving, and what were the lessons they taught you?

The stewardship Task force is compiling the congregation’s stories of Giving.  We invite you to send us your stories.  You may send the via email (send to info@uccmsla.org)  you may send them snail mail, (405 University Avenue, Missoula, MT  59801) you may make a video  or audio recording and send us that, or post your thoughts on our face book page.  We all have stories about giving – Let’s share them!

Here's one from Amy Carter to begin the conversation...

Stories of giving

It was Christmas vacation my sophomore year in college.   The itinerary home was, New York to San Francisco, spend the night with my Uncle, San Francisco to Tokyo, where my parents lived.  I was incredibly homesick, so this trip came at the right time.  The flight from New York to San Francisco went fine.  The next morning I was in a panic – my ticket (this was before e-tickets) was no where to be found!  After searching and searching, I went to confess to my Uncle – I had lost my ticket!  He was very, very unhappy – and called my father in Tokyo.

I was expecting yelling, shouting, Dad venting his frustration over my tendency to loose things.  Gently he told me he would buy me another ticket so I could come home. When ever I think of grace, when ever I think of giving freely, I always think of this moment – when I was very gently told that I could come home.