Saturday, March 17, 2012

We Don't Notice

On Saturday night 1/21/12 we regrouped w/ our Global Orphan leaders, John & Abby Carr. This was probably the most personally-impactful time each day...realizing what had happened that day as we shared stories.

John shared the same story that Jesus shared years ago, about a widow living in extreme poverty, and how she still gave sacrificially. Then John shared some "in-the-trenches" perspective of poverty (I'll paraphrase to how it applied to me)...

"Some things that poverty causes that we do not notice b/c we're not living in it...

Choices:

  1. which clothes or shoes to wear...the black shoes to match the belt?...gray shirt w/ khaki shorts?
  2. which course to golf...the farther one w/ the tougher back 9?...or the close one w/ tight fairways?
  3. which Starbucks to go to...the closest one w/ no parking but new swanky chairs?...or the farther one w/ plenty of parking and a drive-thru?
  4. which bathroom to shower in...the bedroom w/ awesome showerhead?...or the kids' with the super water pressure?

(that is a shower at Jumecourt orphanage...the water is not warm)

Privacy:

  1. there is no place to be alone...
  2. no car to go drive in...
  3. no bathroom or bedroom to shut door behind...

(this is a boys' bedroom...do the math on how many kids sleep in there...I wouldn't want the bed next to the open windows when its raining...)

Opportunity:

  1. cashiers in Haiti speak SIX languages.
  2. "overqualified" workers take any job they can get."

Question: How could these people be so joyful without choices, privacy or opportunity?

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