It was lunchtime on a Friday, and I was handing Charles his pay for his second week of work for our project. Previously, he had been working for less than $2 a day selling shoes for a friend, so he prefers to be paid each week while he rebuilds his funds and pays off debts.

Charles gave me a funny look and didn’t take the money. “I don’t understand,” he said. “I haven’t earned this money. How does this work?”

His entire adult life, Charles has earned a living by selling things. He has sold frozen yoghurt, sandals, used shoes and used shirts and socks, among other things. He is a good salesman and is used to having people pay him for products, then getting his portion of the sales at the end of the day. Now he was confused, unwilling to take money he didn’t feel he had earned.

I realized I needed to explain to Charles how his new type of work is funded. “It’s true that we don’t earn money from the work we are doing here,” I said. “But, we are given money for the work. People in America and Europe want to help spread the Gospel to those who don’t know the good news yet. Since they don’t have the opportunity to come here themselves, they give money to support us.”

Charles finally understood, and he took the money I was holding out to him.

Once again, I felt grateful that this honest, unique man is working for us.

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