One of your resolutions this year may be to help others. To look beyond yourself and your family’s needs to help meet the needs of others, is not only good for you, but also for your children. You’re training them to care for others — to love their neighbors as themselves.

Just in case you’re looking for ways to help others in 2017, I know somebody. Actually, I know a few somebodies. Of course, you never have to look far to find someone in need. Or, to find a worthy ministry or agency that helps meet those needs. I encourage you to help in your own neighborhood whenever possible.

But if you’re looking for something a bit more exotic…I definitely know a guy…

There’s a young man in Ecuador who treks into the Amazon jungle loaded down with … bath soap. Yes, you read that right. Seth McDonald has carved a niche for himself. His purpose–to improve the lives of some of the indigenous people living deep in the Amazon regions of Ecuador. He not only provides soap to cleanse their hands and bodies, but also offers hope through the life-cleansing message of Christ.

He calls his ministry Soap4Soap. In his words, “By purchasing 1 bar of our soap, you are giving 4 people the ability to live a cleaner life and the option to hear about the good news.” There’s a short video on his website that tells you all about his work. And of course, he has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/soap4soap/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Seth’s sister and brother-in-law also work in the Amazon region of Ecuador. You can find Joil and Leah Marbut here: http://www.junglemissionary.com/

And on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/junglemissionary/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

The Marbuts founded Ecuador Hope House, which, “…serves as home to over 40 girls from the Shuar Indigenous group of the Jungles of Ecuador.  It is a place of new dreams, new hopes and new beginnings.”

Follow the links above, and you’ll get an idea of the work they’re doing.

Living in the Amazon Jungle isn’t easy–unless you actually enjoy sweltering, humid heat that saps your energy. They do live on the Equator, after all. The pay’s not great either. Good thing they’re not interested in worldly goods.

So these are just a few somebodies you might like to help, if you’re looking for something like that to invest in. And the best part is–you’ll be laying up treasures in Heaven.

Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars.–Matthew 6:19-20 The Message

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