I look ay my big pack that I brought with me for the World Race and I consider myself pretty frugal in my packing. I have one of the smallest packs compared to my teammates at around 55 liters (I thought it was a 70 liter…whoops!) So I became a minimalist in what I needed. I packed small amounts of what was needed and limited myself in what I wanted, bringing only two items I didn’t really needs. I was pretty proud of myself for shoving part of my life into a hiking backpack. However, as I’ve been here in India, I’ve seen a depth of poverty I’ve never seen before.
One little girl that my teammate met in a village was very excited to show Makennah the room she slept in. The little girl lead her into a bare room with metal bunk beds. No mattresses lay on top, only one bare pillow. Makennah told me that all she owned was in a small yellow bag and this little girl was so proud! She was so happy with the blessings she had been given, even though to us they seemed small.
Another time, my team was visiting a village when a older woman came up to me. Holding her hand was a mentally disabled man who I assumed to be her child. My translator told me she was needing prayer for this man and for herself. For his mind and for her financial situation, that she didn’t have enough food for both of them and sometimes went days without food. I had never seen this depth of poverty before. I prayed blessings over them and I continue to pray for her today. After she left, Makennah walked up to me. “Did you see that woman and her son?” I asked her. “Yeah, but that’s not her son.” She replied sadly to me. Makennah explained that the man was on his own, probably abandoned by a family who could no longer support him and this woman took him into her home. She gives up the extra money and time she could have to take care of this mentally disabled man.
True joy, true generosity, and true kindness are the attributes I’ve seen in these people who have so little. Not to discount the blessings and attributes I’ve been given! As I said in my last blog, everything I’ve been given is a blessing. But to see people with so little, who seem to have every right to be angry with how little they have, are joyful to the fullest, generous with everything, and kind to the last drop. The Lord has shown me how you can have the fruit of His spirit in everything. In times of much and in times of little. These people have shown me something so sad yet so beautiful and I’m so grateful that the Lord has put me here, in India, for a time such as this.
“Men grumble because God put thorns on roses. Would it not be better to thank God that he put roses on thorns.” -Dwight L. Moody
