Okay okay let me first explain, I LOVE AMERICA. God has so many different areas to call people and I know that he calls a lot of beautiful hearts to America. SO yes I know that America has needs as well. *Please read my last paragraphs, for this blog isn’t truly about America not knowing poverty..
One problem I have been facing with fundraising for my GAPYEAR ROUTE 3 (#e-sqauddddd) is that many people REFUSE to donate any money or prayers because they believe that there is no need to go to other countries when there is need here in America. I have personally been in South Dakota and fed children from an Indian tribe. The suicide rate was out of the roof. A group of my friends painted over cockroaches in a ladies home, and we watched children eat potentially their only meal of the day. I have been to homeless shelters and sat down with women and men and asked them about their journeys. I have worked with a program called Journeys End Tutoring in New York where we would visit refugees every saturday and teach them the “American Way”. I have been a BIG sister in a program where we would hang out with kids and learn their struggles in life, and provide them with Christmas presents. I understand the hurt and need in America.
I also spent a month in Malawi, Africa. I watched children play soccer with plastic bags rolled up into a ball. I watched families cook their meal on this little stand (most can’t afford) that allows enough room for one pot. I watched children in orphanages with clothes with holes, and their dirty little hands just wanting to be wrapped around mine. I saw babies with snot all over their face, because what in the world is a baby wipe? I watched 3 kids share a bowl of rice and a piece of chicken as their one meal of the day. I’ve prayed for a little boy with scabs all over his body, because his family didn’t have enough money to take him to the doctor ( we prayed for him, and HE WAS HEALED).
With that being said I believe I can make the bold statement that America still does not know poverty. Being the very factual based person I did some research.
Poverty: is the state of being extremely poor. There are 3 types
Relative poverty is defined as a family income that is below a given proportion of the national average, and that those impoverished lack some of the goods, services and buying power that the middle class in that society take for granted. This poverty is experienced primarily in Europe and North America.
Moderate poverty, found throughout much of Latin America, is an income barely sufficient to meet a family’s minimum needs for food, clothing, shelter and health care.
Extreme poverty is a technical term used by the World Bank to define a family living on an income of less than $1 a day. These families suffer chronic hunger and lack of safe drinking water and sanitation, health care, children’s education and rudimentary shelter.
America measures poverty by setting a national number and determining the amount of people in the family (see table)
Lets compare the national incomes over the world.
And to make it even more realistic
Timor-Leste in South-East Asia ranks in $400 Gross National Income, Malawi Africa in at $596 GNI. America in at $41,557 GNI.
An American is considered to be in poverty if they make less than $41,557 yet other countries are averaging national incomes not even making $1,000.
My McDonald friends you are BILLIONAIRE somewhere in this world.
Poverty in America is not being able to purchase Christmas presents for children. Poverty in Asia and Africa are choosing wether to eat this week or get treated medically for the disease that is killing them.
My point is not to bring down America, because we are such a beautiful and lovely country, but the point of this WHOLE blog is to prove that LOVE KNOWS NO BORDERS. Meaning that Jesus Christ’s love can not be limited in just America because we feel we are in too much need here.
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
There is so much hurt EVERYWHERE, and we as Christians need to shine our lights bright to all people, showing love and showing Jesus across borders.
