 |
By Arthur and Joyce
Stoneking
Today we spent the day at
the dump here in Mexico, and I don’t think I will ever be the same.
My heart broke as I
watched the little children come away from their “work” in the garbage,
where
they searched for food to eat and for plastic and other things to sell.
Just
as sad was watching the faces of the older folks. They have given up all
hope
of a better life and are now in survival mode, doing whatever it takes
to keep
them alive for one more day.
At the same time, I was
blessed as I talked to “Lydia” who had lived in the camp by the dump
most of
her life and had raised two daughters, a son and now granddaughters in
that
place. The difference is that Lydia has found Jesus. Now she is
living in a tiny rented room near the church and has a job cleaning
houses.
She lives with her young son, who has Down's syndrome, and her
15-year-old
granddaughter, who has never been to school. Yet these three are so
happy
to be in a new home away from the dump and a part of the church family.
Each month this little family joins a group from the church that goes to
minister at the dump.
My eyes filled with tears as I watched this little lady’s face light up when she saw her daughter come down the hill from the dump to greet her. Lydia is doing her part in reaching her family and the other people at the dump. Her sister and her family still live there. Her daughters and grandchildren still live there. Her dream is to be part of the ministry that brings hope and the love of Jesus to these people who are her family and friends.
 |
I’ve been here before.
I’ve seen situations worse than this. I have watched other people with
no
hope, filled with anger and hatred. However, today something clicked
inside of me. Something was different. It wasn’t just that these
people had nothing and had no hope. Or that we were trying to touch them
with
the love of Christ and ease their suffering in some way with food, water
and
clothing. It was something different. It was more than compassion;
it was an awakening inside of me.
QUESTIONS
The thought came to me,
how can I have two pairs of tennis shoes when there are people who have
none?
What am I personally sacrificing of my own comforts to relieve the pain
and
suffering of others? Do I just give out of my excess or am I truly
sharing the blessings that God has heaped upon me with those who have
nothing?
I believe God is calling
us to do more than we thought we were even capable of doing or that is
even
logical to give.
Remember the Scripture:
“‘For
I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave
me
nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I
needed
clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did
not
look after me.’”
“They also will answer,
‘Lord,
when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes
or sick
or in prison and did not help you?’”
“He will reply. ‘I tell
you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these,
you did
not do for me’” (Matthew 25:42-45).
Have we thoughtlessly passed by someone who was suffering, in need, simply trying to figure out why that person was in that condition? Sometimes, we look for ways to rationalize not helping. Maybe we try to justify holding on to our blessings for our future, for our children, so we will be good stewards of our resources for our retirement years.
 |
Have we ever seen a
Scripture that tells us to lay up goodies for the future? I think not.
God tells us to reach out and touch. We are to give what we have and He
will never forsake us and never allow us or our children to go begging
for
bread. (See Psalm 37:25.) Isn’t that enough for us?
MY PRAYER
Can we curl up on the
couch in a warm blanket after a hot meal and never think about those who
are
shivering in the night without food or water? God forgive me. Teach me
how to love the way that You love. Lord, deliver me from selfishness.
Fill me with Your love to the degree that I will give all that You have
given
me to relieve suffering wherever I see it. Help me, Jesus, to be more
like You.
Arthur and Joyce Stoneking
are AGWM
missionaries to Mexico.
Copyright ©2012 The
General Council of the Assemblies of God.
