The honest Rubbish-Collector!

By Helen Jesze, 15^th March 2019

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,”

John 10:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

On Monday morning we drove up to the church in Rotterdam, where we had ministered at the weekend. They had a new instrument and Pastor S. invited me to come and make some backing tapes for my new music album. It was quite a large building and we had only been to the church premises on the first floor. As we had quite a lot to carry, we put our briefcases under a table at the top of a flight of stairs on the way up, intending to fetch them later. As it had an overhanging cloth, we thought they would be safe.

I started on my music while George was away for a short while, doing some shopping. When he came back he asked, “Where have you put my briefcase? It’s not there now,” “It should be under the table where we left it. I haven’t been down again,” I replied. We looked all over but the briefcase was nowhere to be found. We were concerned as our passports, a cheque and some important letters were in there. My case was still there; it was older and did not look so good as George’s. We would be needing our passports in the next few days.

Pastor S. explained to us that his church rented only part of the building and there were also businesses and offices with premises there, and many people came in and out. He went and spoke to all the business people, but no-one knew anything. After praying with us that God would keep the briefcase safe and we would find it again soon, he rang the police station. The policeman was sure we would not find it as this was an area with many drug addicts and criminals, but grudgingly took the church office number.

Later on in the day we were at our lodgings when Pastor S. rang, “The briefcase has been found!” he told us excitedly. We were very happy but wondered if the contents were all there. O ye of little faith!! When George went to pick it up the next morning, he saw the passports, cheque and letters were still inside! The only things missing were a notepad and some coloured pencils! “A rubbish collector handed it in,” the policeman smiled. They took this man’s address and went to visit him.

Mr. Gelle (pronounced “Jelly!”) told George and Pastor S. that he was throwing the bags of rubbish from the street into the big lorry as he always did, when he noticed that instead of being round, one bag had a strange rectangular shape. He opened it up and there was the briefcase, which he handed in to the police.

“Thank you so much for taking the trouble and for your honesty,” George said to him. “My wife and I would like to give you a present,” and he handed Mr. Gelle one of our books in Dutch, and a small monetary reward. “I’d like the book, please, but no money!” smiled Mr. Gelle. “Glad I could be of help to you!”

We will never know who took the briefcase, but God was watching it all the while, and restored his child’s property! Any collector could have picked up the bag, but God saw to it that honest Mr. Gelle was the one who found it. The passports could have been sold and used by criminals; it would have taken much effort and travelling to embassies, etc. to apply for new ones and our itinerary would have been interrupted. Those were the days when the European borders were not open and passports were needed every few days in our travels – but our God had done it again! He restored what the thief had taken, and caused a man who was not a Christian to take the trouble to help us!

Prayer: Thank you for your help to your children, Father! Cause people to give favour to them. Let lost or stolen property be restored in the Name of Jesus! The enemy is the thief but You are the giver of abundant life! We praise you in advance and expect to see your goodness to us, in the land of the living! Amen!