pictures of poverty - woman in despair
woman in despair2
Originally uploaded by dream awakener.
during my time in kenya, i had the chance to meet many people and talk with many pastors. i asked one of the pastors if he could tell me the biggest problems in the turnkana district, where you live. he said yes:
poverty
aids
some tribal traditions like polygamy
after talking with him for days and getting to know him better, i saw how the first two had hit him hard. he has four kids, he supports his extended family as well as five of his neighbors kids, because he adopted them after both their parents died of aids. the neighbor who died was one of his high school buddies.
what would you say are the problems you are facing? my heart goes out for those who feel all the effects of poverty on a daily basis. when will we as the people of God, open our eyes to the horrible realities of the world that we can help? why do we often turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to some of the real problems in our world? i'm sure that the enemy of our soul and the enemy of shalom "the way things ought to be" is behind it. maybe our world is too comfortable. may God help us. and may these different pictures of poverty that i took while in kenya, give you something to think about. i know that God has me not just thinking about all of this, but actively pursuing ways to help bring a greater since of shalom to our hurting world.
live8
posted by J.R. Woodward @ 8:33 PM
5 Comments:
terry,
thanks a lot for your response and yes there are some definite ways that you can help. right now i am in the process of taking a look at the next step of what we need to do. for i have learned that sometimes in our intention to help we can bring hurt, and so when it comes to helping relief poverty, there are many difficult issues to work through. i am working through them now and i hope that in six months, after getting much advice and growing in my understanding, i could present a plan to different churches in regard to some enduring ways of helping people.
chad,
i looked at the beyond borders site and thought that it is an absolutely beautiful example of the types of things we as Christ followers should be doing. how they are connecting the u.s. to haiti to help is something very similar to what i am pondering at this moment. i love the name of the group, it mission and heart line right up with the very heart of Jesus. thanks for sharing that with us.
and terri, i will keep you informed of what, lord willing, develops.
chad,
i will be doing something for sure and would love for you to partner with what we do. i need to research and get lots of counsel, for i want to help the poor and poverty without making matter worse. there are difficult issues to think through, but i will be acting and would love to have you as a partner in the whole thing. feel free to do some research for yourself and maybe we can talk on the phone sometime. peace and thanks for your awesome heart.
chad,
i would love to talk to you on the phone about partnering together and even doing some research so that we help the poor without making matters worse, there are so many different things to thinking through, but for me like you, non-action is not an option.
terry,
the la times article does show how sometimes when we intend to help, we can actually hurt. that is one of the reasons why i am taking the next 6 months to do research and talk to many who are truly helping. i was not aware of bruce wilkenson's ministry, but as one who has worked with his walk thru the bible ministry in atlanta, i was pleased to see what he has been up to in africa. what a cool thing they have going. thanks for letting me know. it will be another person i connect with in getting advice for something i plan to launch in 2006.
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