**Warning**this may not be the easiest blog post to read.
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:20-21
Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
When I read the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), and got to “even the dogs came and licked his sores,” I was overcome with sadness.
I wept.
It makes me so sad – even the dogs licked his sores.
I have read this story before, but it never hit me like this.
It was because I saw pieces of this in real life here in Zambia while serving at an old people’s home and with kids.
It reminds me of…
-the flies on the old people and even the young kids
-the old people wouldn’t swat the flies away
-the battle between resident and staff for showering
-sickness
-how many go without shoes and walk on rocks, glass, and other sharp things
-the smell of urine
-my little buddy John showing me the bottom of his foot that had a hurt on it and he only had one flip flop on and other days no shoes at all
-the neglect shown
-the abandonment that the old people faced
-holy and dirty clothes
-open wounds that won’t be properly cared for
-the fact that the elderly had no visitors
-the oppression
this list does not even accurately describe all that was seen.
The saddest and worst part of all this is that this is NOT even the worst that life can look.
We live in a broken world.
These people (the kids & elderly) had some sort of joy and hope…
while some people and places around the world are living in similar or worst conditions that do not have any joy or hope.
Please pray for these people to truly find joy and hope in the Lord.
Excerpt from journal (12-14-16)
“Ahh-
it makes me so sad
But, thank the Lord for the joy they have.
Lord, God we have so much.
are we like the rich man?
—no, because we know Jesus
do we only give away our crumbs?
what about all those beggars I have seen?
Lord, less of me and more of You. I want to give more than crumbs. I would rather be like Lazarus than the rich man.”
The wise, woman of God, Erika (our squad mentor) shared with me,
“Don’t let your heartbreak turn into despair, but turn it into intercession.”
Please join me in praying for the nation of Zambia and for the hopeless, oppressed populations of the world to receive true hope and true joy from the Lord.
It was difficult to say good-bye to the old people and the kids, but we had the divine opportunity and privilege to serve the alongside the staff at Maramba Old People’s Home, visit the old people and share Bible stories with them, play futbol and other games with the children and share Jesus with them as well. It was a wonderful first month in Africa. Praise the Lord for all He did in and through us!
Thank you for being apart of my journey.
Check out these awesome videos:
Zambia: https://youtu.be/fWWFbjqmdqw
Maramba Old People’s Home: https://www.facebook.com/jason.albano.56/posts/1216382891783076
Christmas Greeting: https://www.facebook.com/jason.albano.56/posts/1207348092686556
The Give Project: https://youtu.be/XcQFL5kn_84
Silly Video from Victoria Falls: https://www.facebook.com/emily.dashner/posts/10157952053845300
I hope the links work.
Love you all!
