I’ve lived my life believing I can change the world…
From a young age I’ve believed if I set my mind to something I can do anything. But as you get older you quickly learn that things aren’t as attainable as you once thought…
As a counselor, I’ve sat with children and families and helped explore and process their struggles. But a year into being a counselor I soon realized that I wanted to find a speciality in the realm of counseling. I wanted to offer these individuals and families a tangible way to stop the cycle of poverty, stop the cycle of abuse and empower these individuals to see that there is hope through brokenness.
I was sitting with Sarah, one of the leaders from the ministry El Puente we are working with this month in Granada, Nicaragua. Within 2 minutes of talking with her I knew she was onto something. She spoke the words I was looking for to offer the people I had previously worked with. She offers the people she interacts with the chance of dignity; she empowers people to believe they are not second class citizens or less than.
A man that is a part of the recovery group asked the ministry if he could have some money so that he could get his identity papers to get a job. Instead of just giving him the money, Sarah and the other leaders prayed for discernment on what to do. Sarah is an example of what it looks like to be spirit led and intentional with the people God places in her path. When I say spirit led I mean she does not just try to do a quick fix and offer them money but she takes a step back and asks what would be best in this situation for this person.
We have grown up in a culture believing we have the answer to fix the worlds problems whether it is to give people money or go into their community and say I have the solutions rather than taking the time to build relationships in the community and asking them what they believe they need. The phrase “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” This is what the ministry we get to be a part of this month applies to their everyday life.
Instead of giving that man the money which would have been the easy solution, they gave him the opportunity to work for the money by painting the office at the ministry. This man no longer needs to feel like a beggar or a second class citizen but can feel empowered and have dignity as he earns back his identity papers and can get a better job.
Before coming on the Race, I felt like in order to have a successful ministry or career I needed money first in order to obtain the needed resources, but I realized I already can offer people something so much greater than money. I can give people my time and love. If we stopped throwing money at problems and started showing people they are worth your time I think we can change the world together.
Don’t we all desire to know we are worth fighting for?
