We have no way of predicting where or when we might be confronted with the opportunity to rewire our basic construct of priorities and embark on a lifelong adventure of goodness that includes unimaginable situations of pleasant surprises and happiness.
In Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Story,” we get to see the miracle take place where Ebenezer Scrooge never “retired” -- he simply “rewired.” He had the opportunity to rewire the motherboard of his personal computer – he got the circuit board of his life’s purpose figured out. And uniquely enough, we discover that every act of goodness following that transition, became a stepping-stone to Scrooge’s own personal fulfillment.
That’s because “Goodness” pays double – the recipient of goodness is enhanced and affirmed; and secondly, the initiator of the thoughtful deed or gesture is rewarded.
It was in Brazil that God began to sensitize me to the overwhelming need for medical supplies and equipment to be supplied to the needy and hurting people in those lesser developed countries. when I first began visiting Brazil, Project C.U.R.E. did not exist. I had started going to Rio and Sao Paulo and Brasilia and Belo Horizonte and Recife and Natal and Goiania as an economic consultant working with President Sarney's administration and Antonio Basalar, one of Brazil's chief economists. We had eventually put together an economic plan known as the Libra Proposal, which was designed to facilitate Brazil's repayment of international loans back to US banks. The fiscal plan was utilized, but little did I know during those days just why it was that God had destined my being in Brazil. It certainly wasn't just for helping design fiscal or monetary policy for the government of a lesser developed country.
As an economist, I had been the one who had set up the meetings in Washington, D.C., bringing the Brazilian groups to meet with James Baker, then Secretary of the US Treasury. But little did I know that those negotiations and high-level meetings would soon seem bland and pale compared to the meetings which would quickly be taking place affecting thousands and thousands of lives of needy people around the world.
The people who were involved in that initial saga, of what became Project C.U.R.E., became some of the dearest friends I had in all the world. Lorena Zambrano Barnes, now a medical doctor married to Dr. Paulo Velho, a well-known specialist in dermatology and infectious diseases in Brazil, played a great part in the infant stages of Project C.U.R.E. As my Portuguese interpreter, Dr. Lorena and her mother, Dr. Natalia Zambrano Barnes, and Lorena's sister, Dr. Natasha Zambrano Barnes, used to take me on their medical rounds. We went not only to the deplorable hospitals where they practiced, but also out to the clinics in the slums and favelas of the cities, where they unselfishly volunteered their medical services. That medical family became perhaps as close to me as my own brothers and sisters.
It was Dr. Paulo and Dr. Lorena who introduced me to Dr. Vilmar Thrombeta, the Director General of the large university in the city of Campinas, Brazil, along with Dr. Aguinelo Cunha, the head of the University Hospital in Campinas, and Dr. Francisco, and Dr. Jose Reis. In fact, Dr. Reis, and his wife Elaina, came to Evergreen, Colorado, and stayed with us in our home.
Our new Brazilian team worked tirelessly together for over ten years. I made many trips to Brazil with the new Project C.U.R.E. entity, in addition to the other 58 countries in which we were now shipping donated medical goods. The involvements and the results in Brazil were staggering.
In 1997, my dear friend, Vilmar Thrombeta had become ill. He was talking to our precious Dr. Lorena on the telephone. Vilmar began to cry. He said he had been praying and telling God that he wanted to some way be able to see his best friend, James Jackson, in Brazil at least one more time before he died, so that they could once again talk and be friends. When I learned about the phone call, Anna Marie and I quickly made arrangements to fly back to Sao Paulo state. I thanked God for such a privilege.
During our unique time together, Vilmar and I reminisced about the days when Project C.U.R.E. had first come to the University Hospital in Campinas when Vilmar was Director General in charge of the entire university and medical school. “Jim, we were struggling for our very existence. We were behind in our financial payments and had nowhere to turn. We needed more students in the university, everything needed to be updated and replaced in our University Hospital. We had the responsibility of establishing more local clinics inside Sao Paulo State but had absolutely no way to build or furnish any new clinics.
Vilmar reminded me of how we went together to the government offices and persuaded them to give us permits to build more clinics. We even gained approval from them to build a new 300-bed addition onto the University Hospital. We talked about Project C.U.R.E. bringing millions of dollars-worth of the latest in updated pieces of medical equipment and high-tech instruments, and medical supplies. Now, all the medical students in that part of South America wanted to come to the University that Vilmar was running because they would have access to learn on the latest technology. “Jim, everything changed. You even showed us how to organize our University alumni so that they could help us with our financial needs.”
“You brought us all those new ideas and things – but do you know the most important thing you brought us? – You brought us ‘Hope’ – you loved us and encouraged us to take what we had and make it better. That even changed the way our board, and staff, and doctors began to talk and think. And with that idea of change, we began to help all our people more and more. We used to say ‘Oh, we can’t do that, we don’t have any money.’ Now we say, ‘someone believes enough in us to come along side us and help us.’ It was that hope that I believe saved our University and our wonderful Hospital. We in Campinas, Sao Paulo owe so much to God and Project C.U.R.E.”
It hurt to have to say good-by to our dear, dear friend, Dr. Vilmar Thrombeta. But Anna Marie and I quietly rejoiced in our hearts as we departed.
Yes, Goodness pays double – at least double!
Next Week: Goodness is Authentic – But can be Counterfeited