Hearse Corn

I had an interesting experience one afternoon in September. Two things led to this interesting experience.

• A very kind person in Nampa emailed the staff at headquarters to let us know that they had free sweet corn available to MAF families as a way of thanking us for our missions work.
  
• A friend invited me to a big barbecue at her house.

Said friend added me to the guest list the very afternoon of said barbecue. Wanting to be helpful, I asked what I could do to help.

"I was hoping to pick up some of that corn that was mentioned in the email, but it turns out I won't have time to get over to that side of town. Would you be able to pick some up?" asked said friend.

"Sure!" said Sluss. "How much should I get? How many people are coming?"

"Well, there will be about 12 people, but I was hoping for about 50 ears so I can freeze some."

Sluss makes mental note: "Remember to expect missionary-like answers from missionaries. They prep for winter, you know."

Obedient, helpful Sluss says again, "Sure! Fifty ears. You got directions to the place? Ah, I drive to a funeral home, you say? Hmmm. A...funeral... home."

Have you ever seen Children of the Corn?

A few hours later, I follow the directions and come to a lovely family-owned funeral services home, with a very kind-looking elderly man standing in front of an open garage. He comes out to the car, greets me warmly and asks how he can help. I flash my MAF name tag and my best sweet corn smile, and say I would like 50 ears of corn, please. He ponders a moment, is thrilled to hear I will be joining a barbecue that evening with other MAFers, and says to follow him. Back to the garage we go.

Two sights fill my eyes:

AND

All the corn was neatly bagged into dozens next to the shiny white hearse. We chat for a moment while a few people come out of the inner garage door to the home, men in nice suits who greet me. My nice corn man tells me how two brothers own this home, and they also own corn fields just south of there, and raise their corn specifically to give away as an offering to God's servants. He generously grabs four bags, carries them out to my car, and wishes God's blessings on me.

Um, yeah. Amazingly generous, stunningly incongruent moment. And how was your summer?