I was talking with a good friend of ours that is also a missionary and we were talking about life in a third world country for a missionary. And she said something profound that I have not been able to put into words before. She said that that hardest part of living here - that unless you live her for an extended period of time so that you experience it - is that you can't escape the NEED. Don't get me wrong - I know that there is tons of need in the States and that there is poverty and desperation and you see need, however it's on a different level in a third world country -and it's exhausting.
Everywhere we look there is need - there are at least 3 men who use hand push carts that pedal around our roads as they don't have legs beyond little stumps -they are begging. Then there are the children beggers who have families but the families have no money to care for them, the little boy that collects plastic bottles to sell in our neighborhood, or when we dump our trash every Monday at the dump point there are people there to go through our trash and they even eat the food we've thrown away. This is not to mention the orphans, the old folks, and the poor families or single moms, or the man who was assaulted and now lives with a catheter bag and is experiencing kidney failure and now unable to provide for his family, or Marcelita - an 8 year old that is blind and autistic and really has no future because her family doesn't know what to do with her. But what really got me was yesterday when I was driving through a toll booth and there was a young mom - probably 15 years old with her very sick baby boy standing in 100 degree weather - plus humidity - in between the lanes of cars begging for money. Her son was sleeping - looking weak and disproportional as his head was at least 2 times bigger than it should have been. I felt like I was in a World Vision movie as I watched this mom try to raise money to live on as she took care of her baby. that got me and it got me good.
So that's what was put into words for me - and I think it's true - that the hardest part of living here is not even missing my family - it's seeing NEED staring me in the face every day - I can't get away from it and I can't change it all and that is the hard part - feeling helpless to change that little boys story.
There are good things happening - that man with the kidney failure is receiving his operation in the next 2 weeks -thanks to the generosity of one of our teams that is sponsoring the $. And Marcelita has an appointment with a Neurologist in the next week if we can work out the details and we have a lead on a special needs school for her.
So once again you've just gotten into my brain. I don't expect you to do anything about it today, or for me all of a sudden to be able to change the world - although i'd love to. But please pray for us - it becomes a very heavy burden when we take it upon our shoulders and not let God carry that load for us - because He loves them all more than me and He has more compassion. Pray as we are confronted with NEED every where we turn that we listen to God for guidance in this area.
2 comments:
I remember feeling that too, while I was in India. It IS a very hard thing. I will keep you in my prayers. It's over whelming to think of the whole world and all the hurting and crime and hate, but if I can carry my part and you can carry yours and the body of Christ can each do what THEY are called to do, then I know we will change the world!
Amen Mamma Bird!!! =D Seeing the need is so hard. I've seen it many times, especially when visiting third or even second world countries. Praying for you!
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