The Pew Research Center took a world survey of 91,000 respondents from fifty nations on their view of the American attitude. America�fs individualism and do it yourself attitude was highlighted as its distinction from most of the world. Because the American nation is wealthier than most nations of the world, there really is no need to rely on others for our every day survival. While toilets, clean water, and education are norms for us, they are luxuries worldwide. Material independence is often mirrored with emotional and spiritual independence as well. Destitution, however, is paralleled by a deep emotional and spiritual hunger.
I never really experienced culture shock while I was here at the Philippines, but I did experience spiritual shock. It seems as if every time we�fve done home visits, which is twice a week, one or two people would invite Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about whether their faith was genuine at first since I didn�ft get to witness some of those moments when my teammates shared about Jesus with them. Also, things didn�ft seem to happen like this back in America. This past week during home visits, my team was passing out numbers for the families to line up for medical care on Saturday. During our visit of Mayolita, Pastor Rey asked me to share my faith in Jesus with her and she simply said she wants to put her faith in Jesus. I prayed with her to accept Jesus. The very next day when I was leading a study of the faith of Abraham, I simply asked the group if anyone wanted to put their faith in Jesus the same way Abraham did. Lilita raised her hand and said she understood what Jesus did for her and wants to welcome Jesus into her life. Through these incidents, I�fve come to realize that even though the faith of the people in this community may come easily for them, it is sincerely genuine.
I finally understood when Jesus said �gBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.�h Matt. 5:1 Those that experience physical poverty are often poor in spirit. In the state of destitution, these people realize their own helplessness and their need to rely on someone. As those poor in spirit, they humbly admit their guilt as an imperfect person and understand their powerless efforts to save their spirit. They see their need for someone to intervene and change their lives, they see their need for Jesus.
After wrestling with my spiritual shock, I have learned that truly it is a blessing to be poor in spirit. I am so thankful that my teammates and I get to be a part of sharing basic necessities, friendship, and the love and hope Jesus to meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual hunger.
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