Venturing home from ministry on Monday I encountered quite the experience. An experience that left me quite saddened and perplexed. Our modes of transportation consist of our own two feet and overly crowded buses/vans that we barely fit into. It seems in the third world that cramming as many people as possible into a vehicle is the only way to travel. You see three seats and they’ll make sure that four people are in that row. I’m thankful that we haven’t had to ride in an ox cart yet, as those are truly a reality here in Madagascar.
On this particular day we had just moved from one van to another bus and were waiting in traffic to continue our journey back to OM headquarters where we are staying. I was casually sitting in my seat with my elbow out the window and enjoying the sunshine warming me up. As I scanned the crowds of people, enjoying a guilty pleasure of people watching, as they go about their busy days a man happened to catch my eye.
As soon as we made eye contact his demeanor changed and he ran across the road and straight up to my window and grabbed my arm. Thanks to Mme. Bishel and Mme. Delgros I have acquired a bit of French speaking knowledge and was able to greet the man and ask how he was doing. He responded with just fine and then immediately went into begging for money. I couldn’t quite understand all that he was saying but it was clear that he wanted money or food. I had only brought one bottle of water with me to ministry that day and had nothing to offer him besides a friendly smile.
The bus was soon able to begin moving slowly as traffic hedged its way forward. The man continued to hold my arm and run next to the van. Each time that I told him I didn’t have anything to give him he would continue to squeeze my arm with more force. I showed him my almost empty plastic water bottle and told him that it was all that I had and that I didn’t have money to give him. Again, he squeezed my arm harder with what seemed like desperation for me to give him something.
At this point one of my squad mates noticed what was going on and began to attempt to shut the window. Traffic also began to pick up and the man was having a harder time keeping up. Just as the bus was about to pick up speed and leave the man behind he squeezed my arm even harder and with his other hand he reached into the bus window and took the water bottle out of my hand. He then dropped away from the window and walked back to the safety of the edge of the street. My squad mate got the window closed and immediately asked if I was alright.
My immediate response was the typical, “Yes, I’m fine, thanks” answer. But as I got home and truly began to process the situation I realized that I wasn’t fine. I’m deeply saddened by the reality of this mans’ desperation. That a plastic water bottle that was almost empty could mean so much to someone makes me feel so heartbroken.
The people of Madagascar are hurting, hungry, and thirsty. They are desperate and searching for relief. They desperately need our Lord and Savior. That man needs the Father’s love and sense of peace. I very well could have had money on me that day and had given it to him. But I realize now that it would have only created a temporary relief to his worldly struggles. He and the rest of the people of Madagascar need to know the truth of Jesus’ love for us. That He will protect them and keep them from going hungry. For the scriptures say that man does not strive on bread alone.
I desperately pray for this man and these people that the Holy Spirit will begin to work in their lives. That He would soften their hearts and prepare them for the seeds we are planting. I pray that a revolution will occur in Madagascar and that these people would come running across the street for the Heavenly Father and not for a mere white girl in hopes of money. I pray that the Lord would use us as His army to fight the battle here and triumph in victory over these people; that we would win their hearts for the Lord.
I pray for the people here and their circumstances. I pray that the Lord will continue to provide for them and that each person would see their worth and how specially made they are.
I pray for the people of Madagascar.
1 Chronicles 28:20
“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”
