‘Tech
Trash Tuesday’ was how everyone referred to it. It was also one of
the events the newspaper reporters never found out who authorized it.
But that Tuesday morning Mr. Jenkins, the church’s grounds-keeper
noticed a pile of junk near one of the larger doors of Jericho;
Junior Jericho, that is. He walked over to take a closer look and
found it was exclusively computer and cell phone junk – no garbage,
bumpers, pop cans, newspapers and such. He returned to his chores not
thinking any more about it.
About
an hour after the school bus went by on its afternoon deliveries,
Jenkins saw a boy pulling a wagon along the side of the road toward
Jericho. In the wagon were his little sister and a couple pieces of
computer junk. A computer mouse was shamelessly being dragged behind
the wagon by its tail. The old grounds-keeper bagged the trimmings
from the bush he had just given a haircut to. He wasn’t a nosy
sort at all but something inside him yanked his gaze toward the
little wagon delivery and what it all might mean.
As
Jenkins began the next bush he saw the duo and the delivery wagon
come toward him watching for careless cars as they crossed the paved
church parking lot. Mr. Jenkins laid down his trimmers as the two
walked up to him.
The
brother said, “Mr. Jenkins, my sister Dede wanted to say something
to you.” Trying to sound grown up, the little 5 year old said,
“Mister mower man, I sure like you making my church look pretty.
Can I give you my best hug?” Inside that mower man every cell in
his body screamed, “YOU SURE CAN!” It was almost like he got a
little taste of heaven’s ‘well done thou good and faithful
servant.’ (Matthew 25).
After
his insides calmed down from his sugar-hug, he asked the boy, “What’s
all the junk for?” The almost matter of fact reply was, “Oh we’re
gonna have a Junk Computer Missions Fair. We’re meanin’ to tell
every kid in town that Jesus loves them so much He died on the Cross
for them.” The mower man said, “That’s wonderful! I’d love to
help, but I’m dumber’n a stump when it comes to computers.” “No
problem with that, Mr. Jenkins. Jesus has got something for everyone
to do!” The grounds-keeper thought to himself, Now that’s a
preacher boy if I’ve ever heard one.”
The
delivery wagon duo headed for home as bushes were again being
trimmed. Mr. Jenkins smiled to himself, “those young people are
going to reach others for Christ with junk computer stuff, but with
no committees, fancy presentations, planning sessions, or budgets;
just a burden for the lost, and love for the Lord.” He could hardly
wait to tell his pool-shootin’ buddies at the Over Sixty’s Senior
Center on Friday.
Even
before dark, Gerdy, (that’s Granny Simms’ old Hudson) pulled up
to the pile of computer junk and the doors immediately came open.
Granny was the first one out and unlocked the door to the old Junior
Jericho building. Out came Drake, Orange hair Bennett, and nose chain
Avery. She wasn’t wearing the sponge neck brace today. God must
have smiled as two more boys climbed out and pitched right in, moving
the computer trash pile inside the building.
The
computer trash was lined up along the walls of the front meeting room
like a stack of firewood. When the job was done, Drake took two of
the boys outside, got the tennis balls out of the milk can storage
and showed them how to play wall-ball.
