Hi Neighbour! I consider my conversation with Errol a few days ago to be very inspirational. It was about my topic of interest: prosperity and poverty in the world. We discussed why poor people tend to remain poor while the rich always seem to be doing so well - even in the midst of a recession.

He made reference to some very wealthy people in this world whose coffers are always running over for the simple reason that they give to a lot of charities. He went on to say that while living in the USA many years ago, he regularly attended a Friday-evening meeting where a motivational speaker addressed a jam-packed room with poor people in search of freedom from the clutches of poverty.

'Prosperity gospel'

The message of the speaker, who was a financial wizard, was very simple: Give and it be shall be given unto you. Many did not buy into this message, mainly because of their prejudice against the 'prosperity gospel' now permeating the world. However, it was discovered that those who believed that 'gospel' and acted on it started showing signs of material prosperity.

A particular gentleman, who was working with a large dry-cleaning establishment, is someone he will never forget. This guy was so poor he could not change his shirt more than once per week. He started giving to the needy, just to test the principle. After a few months, he became a habitual giver. The more he gave to others, the greater his resources of charity grew.

At the end of three months, he was able to change his shirt not once, but twice, per day. That's not the end of the true story! Errol said the gentleman's life made such a rapid turnaround that within a 3 1/2-year span, he bought his workplace.

Personal efforts

Of course, it didn't just happen like that. A series of circumstances and personal efforts was the forerunner of this elevation. There was nothing special about this individual. He only had that experience because he did the right thing. There were also other dirt-poor persons whom he watched move from rags to riches just by adhering to the principle of giving and receiving.

Yes, the poor we will always have, but it does not mean all the poor should always be poor. Remember that our standard of living is hinged to our standard of giving.

Hello Mi Neighbour is authored by Silton Townsend, better known for his portrayal of the character 'Maas Gussie' in the once-aired local sitcom 'Lime Tree Lane'.

Thanks for these gifts

1. Trudy, for offering food to Ms Miller and her children. Ms Miller recently lost her job.

2. Mark, for assisting a mother of five with her children's school expenses and food. She, too, lost her job recently.

3. Mr Heron, for transporting furniture to a neighbour in need at no cost.

4. Terry-ann, St Catherine, for offering clothing, shoes and a double stroller to a neighbour, also in St Catherine.

5. Ruth, St Andrew, for assisting Novelette and Linette, both mothers of eight children, struggling with financial difficulties.

6. Margaret, for extending assistance to Hazel (Clarendon), who was in need of dentures.

7. Mr Pryce, Old Harbour, for giving children's clothing and size-eight female shoes.

8. Lorna (St Andrew), for offering children's clothing to neighbours.

9. Ms Archer, Spanish Town, for offering a sewing machine and clothing to a neighbour in need.

10. Ms Burris, for offering two packs of adult diapers.

Opportunities to help neighbours

1. Sharmaine, Westmoreland: unemployed mother of four children - 17, 16, 10, 7. Her fiancé was laid off. She needs a bushwhacker to help generate an income.

2. Tamara, Clarendon: unemployed mother of two small children. The six-year-old has sickle-cell disease and needs learning toys.

3. Elizabeth: asking on behalf of Sister Marshall from the Tom's River Seventh-day Adventist Church, who is badly in need of a walker.

4. Camille, St Catherine: 17-year-old mother unable to purchase a front door for her home. She is currently using a piece of board and is asking neighbours for a size-32 door.

5. Kenesha, St Catherine: young single mother of an 11-month-old infant in need of a mattress and a stove as she makes the effort to find her footing.

6. Gloria, Kingston: mother of four children, three with sickle-cell disease. The eldest child, 21, has suffered four strokes as a result of the disease. Her husband is unemployed. The family is appealing for food, children's clothing and adult diapers.

7. Julie, St Andrew: unemployed mother of two, including an infant. The father is not earning enough on his own to supply the needs of the family. She is appealing to neighbours for a sewing machine to help make a living.

8. Neighbour, St Elizabeth: concerned about a young mother who needs the support of a stable family environment in order to maximise her potential. Appealing to any good, godly and stable family for assistance.

To help, please call 906-3167, 884-3866 or 373-7745, or email neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link. Those who desire to make financial donations to this project may make deposits to account number 351 044 276 at the National Commercial Bank. Bank routing password: JNCBJMKX.

Give and it be shall be given unto you. Many did not buy into this message, mainly because of their prejudice against the 'prospe-rity gospel' now permeating the world.