(A typical Cambodian house)Its' taken me awhile to write in my blog again... I guess it's because the past few weeks have been a lot to process. After visiting Cambodia and seeing more suffering, it has stirred a few questions in my mind. I've been thinking of God's heart for the poor. I keep thinking about Jesus' life. He left everything He had and came to earth to be a poor man.
Who really wants to leave their own home, a place of comfort, of safety, a place of peace, to come down and hangout with people who hate you? I know I wouldn't want to do that! But for some amazing and beautiful reason God chose to become poor so that He could identify and relate with us. When I think about Christ's example I am compelled to try and live my life serving the poor the way He did! Identifying with the poor in their suffering is exactly what Christ did.
As I mentioned before, questions have been stirring in my mind related to God's heart for the poor. Questions like, "why aren't we more actively involved with the poor, when Scripture clearly shows God's deep compassion for them?" "If we have so many resources why aren't we more generous with what God has given us?" Or "how can I live more simply inorder to identify with the poor?" I share these questions to encourage all of us to honestly look at God's heart for the 'least of these.' Since being here, I have learned the importance of identifying with the people we work with. We have to bring mutual respect and humility when serving them. We can't come in thinking that we- Westerners can 'save the day'. We need to identify and put yourselves on the same playing field as them. We in fact need the poor, because they teach us about humility, thankfulness, and simplicity.
Being in Thailand, India, and Cambodia and getting to know our friends who are poor, I am compelled to live more simply, because they live very basically. When I am on the streets of Bangkok visiting my friends, I am more aware of the money I spend when around them, I am more aware of what I consider "trash" is. (I quickly learned that my empty plastic water bottle is not trash to someone who doesn't have anything to hold their water in). I am also more conscious of the food I waste when I am eating with them. When I am with my friends who are poor, I am forced to examine my lifestyle.
I want to close with two stories about two women I have become friends with. First is Monicah*. Monicah is one of the women we are caring for in our home. She is 7 months pregnant. She has very little as far as money and possessions go. Right in front of our house, we have a little street market. However, Monicah usually chooses to walk to a different market about 3 miles away in the 100 degree scorching, sun because the other market is just a little bit cheaper. She does this because she wants to be careful with how she spends her money, (even if it means walking 3 miles, 7 mos pregnant in the hot sun). When I look at Monicah's life, I think about the way I spend my money. I usually make decisions based on "convenience". BUT I have to ask myself the question, "is this wise, just making decisions based on what's 'easiest' or 'convenience'? I think God would answer and say no. We should be more thoughtful with the way we spend our resources, even if it means shopping somewhere else, or not buying the newest clothes or coffee. Since, living and caring for Monicah, I have seen her simplicity and it really challenges me to examine my lifestyle. I have also seen her thankfulness for what she does have.
The second story is about a women named Ban Luog*. She was abandoned by her husband, is now homeless and lives on the streets with her three children (ages 10, 5, 6 mos). Ban Luog is actually Cambodia but she lives in Thailand because she can make more money begging on the streets rather than working in Cambodia. Ban Luog has had a very hard month. Recently, a foreigner drugged her while she was begging on the street and he took her 5 old daughter. By God's grace the police intervened and Ban Luog got her daughter back safely. However, it would be much safer for Ban Luog to go back to Cambodia with her 3 children. But she doesn't want to go back because she literally has nothing in Cambodia. No home, no food, nothing. There is a Christian organization that we know of that could help her. But she needs the funds to get into the program. If only the resources where there, she would be able to go. Right now, she doesn't have the funds to go where its safer.
There are solutions to these stories...the solution is: God's people getting involved and coming alongside those who are poor. Whether its walking 3 miles to the market so they don't have to walk alone, or whether its living simply and saving money so that it can be used to assist a mother and her 3 children. There are solutions to these stories. The solution first began with God's love. Love that led him to earth to become poor, so that He could reach the least of these! This beautiful truth then moves us (who already have hope) to be His hands and feet in the world!
(* indicates names were changed)
