Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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It is crazy to think that in less than 2 months I will be back on American soil again!

 

 
 
There are so many thoughts and feelings on what God has taught and shown me in these past 9 months since I have been on the World Race. It has, yes, been a journey of a lifetime, but one that I am sure will ignite a lifetime of journeys that will draw me closer to my Creator and the ones He loves! I wanted to share with you just a small picture of what this journey has looked like.

I am sitting here in a quaint cafe (a place I often find myself, no matter the city) in the heart of Siem Reap, Cambodia watching locals engage foreigners with tuk tuk rides and selling handmade crafts. There is so much going on, streets are crowded, backpackers are living their dream, lights are everywhere, people are sleeping on the street, and families are breaking bread at the dinner table. There is so much that captivates my attention. Lord, don’t let me miss any detail.

There is this sign that reads, “I lost both hands fighting the Khmer Rouge. Please support my small business.” posted to a little book stand right outside. The man running it has amputations at his wrist and elbow. Another man is walking in and out of places selling water bottles. He is missing most of his fingers due to a land mine. In the midst of this horrific tragedy I find myself trapped. I don’t know what to do. I also feel this bitter wall being built up between me and them. Lord, don’t let me forget what breaks your heart.


 
There is this constant battle within me when I see beggars on the street. Some are just sitting there asking for money, others play instruments and sell handmade goods or cheap everyday items. Some are barely old enough to walk, while others are almost too old and unable to walk. Crippled, limbs missing, disfigured, blind, deaf. These are the faces and bodies I constantly see. But the battle lies in how I respond. How should I respond? Let me bring into consideration some context for those that are not aware how deceptively evil our world is…
 
When I was in Greece and I was traveling from the airport to our hostel I was quickly met by these adorable young children playing wooden flutes and various instruments. I wanted so badly to give something to them, but I was strictly told not to. I didn’t know why. When I would go out to eat, there were always children asking for money and doing some kind of dance or singing or selling items. The same desire would erupt as I looked at the conditions they were in.

I heard while there that these children are all connected to a central person or group of people that purchase them and then use them to make money off of tourists who don’t know any better. Who look at these sad looking faces and just simply give money thinking that will make their lives better. Maybe even put a smile on their face, but that smile is fake and only temporary. They prey on children and would do anything for an extra buck. If these kids didn’t make enough money that day they were at risk for a beating. But by giving them money, this would only encourage the activity and put more children at risk. It is giving in to the brutal and viscous system of hurting, abusing, and enslaving these innocent children. Modern day slavery is real and comes in many forms.

Fast forward to Thailand. I was walking up and down the populated walking street at the Sunday Night Market and would notice every hundred feet or so several kids or adults singing or playing music. They would use whatever they had to make music, be it a trash can or their toes. They were very creative and had beautiful voices. I knew that inside they must have had beautiful hearts as well.

 

Many of these people were blind and that made them all the more helpless and desperate. I later found out that they had been purposely blinded by acid as children in order to look that way. Again, evil people doing whatever they can to make more money. 

So when I see these people I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to propagate this evil operation but I don’t want to continue seeing them and doing nothing. So what do I do. Often times, almost every time (I ashamedly admit) I do nothing. I walk by, say, “man that’s tough” and walk away. Go home and then write a little blog. But then, I see them again and again.

If I was in their situation what would I want? What, Lord, do you want to speak into their lives? What life giving, hope filled response would you offer them? You say to take care of the widows and orphans, how do we do that? “Josh, do you love me? Feed and take care of my sheep!”

I will leave that last point up for you and the Lord to decide what that means for you. But I am thinking it means much more than simply throwing a buck or two into a pot.