A Third World Country in our Backyard

She saw poverty up close and looked into the empty eyes of the hopeless. She looked around her and saw that no one else seemed to notice or want to do anything. She broke. 

When Gina came back to work, she asked me how I could go to all these places, see all that I have seen, and come back to this life here. I looked her in the eye and answered: 

Gina could barely work, tears would form in her eyes at random times. I knew what that was like and tried to think of how to encourage her. It was hard. She is in that area of anger, frustration, hurt, empowerment, all a part of an emotional tornado. She asks how I stay so strong and I tell her it’s not me. It’s God’s strength, God’s love through me. She knows that, but still wonders why the people she knows, who love Jesus, aren’t acting that way, why they aren’t jumping to help…… she is passionate….but she is also upset.

 Her weekend was spent at the Pine Ridge Native American Reservation in South Dakota. A place of poverty, a third world country right in our backyard. How is this possible??

Police blame 90% of the problems on alcohol abuse

You can imagine everything else that goes with that. Violence, neglect, apathy, rape, starvation, etc.

Gina is hurting but also empowered. She wants to go back in October and bring things, aid them in some way. We know that it will help in the moment, but what can we do for our own people who need more. How can we create something sustainable for  fellow citizens who are suffering quite immensely? The wheels are turning and something has to be done.