Last week I shared about some of the consequences I’ve seen
from short-term solutions to cycles of poverty. I’ve seen it play out time and time again now that we
are living in Kenya, and it’s a frustrating thing.
I look at the people in the camps we are here to help and
serve, and there is huge gap between us…not just because we are from different
countries, look a little different, or have access to different resources…those
are a given. The gap I’m seeing
more and more is the one that’s been created by people trying to help.
I get frustrated with people in the camps because they lie,
cheat, steal, and manipulate us. I
have so much trouble wrapping my mind around why they would do things like
this. I mean, we are here to help!
The longer I live here and the more I get to truly know the people though, I am
starting to understand this scenario more.
I started to ask myself, “If I was in their place, what
would I do? “ Here is what they know: They have lived in utter poverty for
years without any sign that things will get better. Foreigners come to visit, usually bringing food or clothes,
and then leave as quickly as they showed up. They are then left alone till someone else comes and
gives another handout.
If this is the cycle I have known in my life, I think I
would react the same way. I would say
and do whatever I needed to so I could get to the front of the line, get the
most stuff, and suck the foreigners dry before they packed it all up and headed
back to their lives of abundance.
So what do you do?
We are trying to break down some of these perceptions and
show that we aren’t here to give handouts, we are here for more than a few days
or weeks, and that we love them and aren’t going to turn our backs on them.
It’s easy to point a finger at short-term missions and say
that it’s the problem and we need to do away with it….but we know that’s not
the solution. Short-term missions
has it’s place…heck, it’s the reason I am here and a lot of others are serving
overseas. But we’ve twisted
short-term missions into something it was never intended to be or do. It’s become more of a hobby, vacation,
or something to put on a resume.
Short-term missions isn’t the answer to long term problems
or cycles poverty. It’s an awakening
tool for those who feel the call of God on their lives to go. It’s a chance to see the cost of a life
devoted to God and loving others in a new location. It’s a stepping-stone to ask God if He would have you commit to
a location, people, or certain ministry.
I know this hits people in a lot of different places and I’ve
made some gross generalizations…but it’s the essence of what we’re dealing with
here.
So I want to open it up…what are your thoughts?
