In Galatians 2:10 Paul says, “Remember the poor.” I have writer’s block in how to describe in words the things I have seen thus far
in Cambodia. There is a presence of death and fear that is very real. Imagine if your house was in the middle of or next to a dump. Not only do you live at the dump, but your job every day is to work 12+ hours in a dump picking through heaps of trash in hopes that you might find enough recyclables to make $1 and be able to eat. On top of doing what you can for your family, your children are unable to attend school because they have no manners and are not considered acceptable by societies standards. I have walked
through endless piles of trash picking up children and giving them candy, all the while praying that through a smile, hug or lollipop they might know there is a God who loves them and knows each of them by name. It is heart wrenching to watch and yet this is all they know. They live in this dump literally and they fear not surviving, so they keep going, no matter how hard it gets.
“The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give you them their food in due season.”
I have spent time at a relocation center where children and families that have been pulled out of the sex industry and sent to a place to live by the government. As it seems to go in third world countries or really all countries, the government is corrupt. The same government that has brought these people here to this place has once again abandoned them. They can’t live where the government has sent them because they don’t have the proper paper work. The government could make it happen, but they won’t so another slum area has formed. An area where people are starving and doing whatever they can to get by, even if it means selling their bodies. We were able to love on these children yesterday, to wash their hair, to make them beautiful, to give them medical attention and to remind them that they are loved.
“You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he also hears their cries and saves them.”
“The Lord preserves all who love Him. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord.” We are called to “Remember the poor.” I believe God could make every one of us have a life of abundance. I believe in Him that abundance is available. He offers each of us abundant love that no matter how dark and dreary and painful our world is, He is present and He is more than enough. He sustains and gives us what we need when we need it. I believe one way God reveals Himself to this world is by the way we love those around us who are suffering. God has given us the privilege to give freely and love freely. We have the resources to help and to go and tell people this message of truth. The way we reach out to those who have less is evidence of our love for Christ. What we do for them, we do for God. It is not a duty, but a joy, an honor and a privilege to give praise to our Father in this way. Let us not just say with our mouths that we love Christ, but let us step out in actions and faith and display our praise for God. Who can you love today? What can you do to make a difference? Out of love for your heavenly Father, go and do it.
