Toward the end of last month, my team was informed that we’d be in Cape Town for this month and we were also notified that we’d have the opportunity to cage dive with sharks if we wanted to, the cost of this adventure being $200. Within the next few days, as part of ministry, I made a home visit to a family and discovered that it was a struggle for them to obtain water for drinking, bathing, and cleaning each day. The woman in this family who was a bit older in age had to walk a mile or two each day to a well with a wheelbarrow, retrieve two large containers of water (the most she could carry with the wheelbarrow), and then had to walk back in the often times sweltering heat of Swaziland. I really felt for her hardship as, many of you who know me are aware of, I have a strong hope that everyone on this planet will have easily accessible clean drinking water one day. My friends and I prayed for this woman and her family that day, but her struggle definitely stayed on my heart. Her son would assist when possible in getting the water, but he wasn’t always available to help out, and it was an arduous task for anyone whether young or old. I inquired later from our local mission leaders as to the cost of building a well. I was astounded to discover that it would cost nearly $18,000 USD due to how deep they would need to dig in the Swaziland hills. However, many families in that area (where there exists an extreme disparity between rich and poor) had enormous plastic water containers that get refilled on a monthly basis and also store rainwater. I asked how much it would cost to purchase one of these containers and found out that it was a more reasonable but costly $400.
Before moving along with this story, I ask you to reflect and answer the question as to what one should do if only given money enough for one option: cage dive with sharks or provide water for this family? I don’t believe that God necessarily wants us to avoid enjoyable activities and live a dreary life of monotony, and I think my personal answer to this question would be to do both. If one can afford to spend money on a life experience which is ultimately centered on one’s own enjoyment, then maybe one could consider donating an equal amount to those who are desperately in need.
In this instance, however, it seemed extravagant to attempt to cage dive and purchase the tank. I prayed and felt as though I heard as a response to not cage dive. It may seem odd to some of you but this actually matched the desire of my heart as well. As exciting as cage diving with sharks might be, I personally would feel much more joy in being able to alleviate the struggle a bit for this family. I went ahead and arranged for a water tank to be purchased and filled for the family and was given the reassurance by both the family and local ministry leaders that this would be a much appreciated purchase.
A few Fridays ago in Cape Town, my team went cage diving and I loved seeing the photos and videos they took from the experience while I spent the day with a good friend of mine from Cape Town who I knew from before this trip. In the evening of the day that everyone went cage diving, I received a message on Facebook from our ministry host in Swaziland. It read, “The tank was delivered and the family is very thankful…The lady was in tears thanking God for this.” Jesus says to give and not talk about doing so. I share this, however, in no way to receive a pat on the back for this “pious” decision but solely to cause some collective reflection as to how we use our resources. I love that my team got to have such a fun experience cage diving and I think God probably loves it as well. None of them knew the Shongwe family who were in need of the water tank and hence it wasn’t necessary for them to decide as to whether to shark dive or not. However, I encourage all of us to remember that there are countless families out there in an identical situation to this family. I’m grateful that my generation is moving away from an interest in accumulating cars and houses and is instead focused more on having interesting life experiences and adventures. I sense that God loves to see us going out and exploring creation. In that pursuit of adventure and the feeling of being alive, I simply want to encourage us all to continue to remember those who have little to no opportunities or resources in life. In conclusion, I say clothe and feed them and carpe diem!
Love to you all!
