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Long - Just something to think about. Scroll on by if this is not your thing. I understand..
In about a week and a half, some of our staff are leaving to go on an Annual Mission trip. They are going to Chekookie Africa. No, I did not spell it right. I can't remember how it is spelled. Only how it sounds. It is not even on the Map. They go once a year and do what they can for the Amazing Grace Orphanage in that city and the poor folks that live there in the city it' self. This is an orphanage where the children go when their parents die of AIDS. It is absolutely heartbreaking. These people have NOTHING. No shoes, 2 meals a day, beans and rice, they are so excited to get ANYTHING. One of our Christmas gifts every year from one of our Pastors is a share of a Cow, or share of Well digging equipment, etc.....Our folks go and help them plant crops. Help them dig wells. They bring as much as they can with the luggage restrictions, and even have to bring "bribe" money for the Crooked Custom Officials in that area so that they can bring the people things like Advil, Tylenol, etc. The ONLY way the people in this City get anything, is by Mission people bringing it. The Government is so corrupt, that nothing you give, makes it to the people. Things literally have to be brought to them by Mission People. They can only eat what they grow. They much prefer used items to anything new, because they will be robbed if they have anything new and nice, and it will be sold on the Black Market. One of our people wanted to bring a bunch of new toys for the children. The people were actually offended because they said we would be setting them up to be robbed if the town found out they had nice, new things there.....
Last year, one of the people took over some Clearance .99 cent Flip Flops that they got from Target. They used them to line their suitcase with. One of the Pictures that they brought back, was of a group of children with one little girl in the front row with the biggest, proudest, smile on her face. She had ONE flip flop. I asked Mary, one of the ladies that goes every year, why she was so excited, and where was her other shoe? She said, she was excited to have A SHOE. She said, she probably gave the other one to her best friend. The looks on these childrens faces.. They are so very happy with SO VERY LITTLE. Yet, when you really look at each face in the pictures, you see such an underlying sadness and fright. It really stays with you. This city is literally a place that the world does not know or care about. I would give anything to be able to go on one of the yearly missions there. It is pretty expensive though. These amazing people pay their own way, then only take about 3 changes of clothes for the entire 2 week trip, so they can fit more in their suitcases for the people there.
I'm sorry to bring this all up, I mean, I know we have people here in the USA that need help too, but by God, if you live in the USA and can't afford floors or roofs in your home, running water, plumbing, shoes, food, etc. then there are plenty of places you can go for help. These people have NOBODY TO HELP, NO WHERE TO TURN. Their Government is so corrupt that you can't even send aid to people and know that they will get it.
So, in a nutshell. I am feeling so very, incredibly blessed right now. This is one of the situations that I think of when I start feeling bad about finances, etc. Sure is sobering....
So, all I ask of you from this post..........The next time you are really upset about the US, and your financial situation, the gas situation, and the fact that you can't afford a vacation this year, or that new car that you wanted, etc... Please, just stop for a second and remember the people that the world forgot about. And, how little they have, and the fact that they are just trying to LIVE. I try very hard to do that every day.. Sometimes it is hard, but I try to remind myself of how incredibly lucky I am..........
In about a week and a half, some of our staff are leaving to go on an Annual Mission trip. They are going to Chekookie Africa. No, I did not spell it right. I can't remember how it is spelled. Only how it sounds. It is not even on the Map. They go once a year and do what they can for the Amazing Grace Orphanage in that city and the poor folks that live there in the city it' self. This is an orphanage where the children go when their parents die of AIDS. It is absolutely heartbreaking. These people have NOTHING. No shoes, 2 meals a day, beans and rice, they are so excited to get ANYTHING. One of our Christmas gifts every year from one of our Pastors is a share of a Cow, or share of Well digging equipment, etc.....Our folks go and help them plant crops. Help them dig wells. They bring as much as they can with the luggage restrictions, and even have to bring "bribe" money for the Crooked Custom Officials in that area so that they can bring the people things like Advil, Tylenol, etc. The ONLY way the people in this City get anything, is by Mission people bringing it. The Government is so corrupt, that nothing you give, makes it to the people. Things literally have to be brought to them by Mission People. They can only eat what they grow. They much prefer used items to anything new, because they will be robbed if they have anything new and nice, and it will be sold on the Black Market. One of our people wanted to bring a bunch of new toys for the children. The people were actually offended because they said we would be setting them up to be robbed if the town found out they had nice, new things there.....
Last year, one of the people took over some Clearance .99 cent Flip Flops that they got from Target. They used them to line their suitcase with. One of the Pictures that they brought back, was of a group of children with one little girl in the front row with the biggest, proudest, smile on her face. She had ONE flip flop. I asked Mary, one of the ladies that goes every year, why she was so excited, and where was her other shoe? She said, she was excited to have A SHOE. She said, she probably gave the other one to her best friend. The looks on these childrens faces.. They are so very happy with SO VERY LITTLE. Yet, when you really look at each face in the pictures, you see such an underlying sadness and fright. It really stays with you. This city is literally a place that the world does not know or care about. I would give anything to be able to go on one of the yearly missions there. It is pretty expensive though. These amazing people pay their own way, then only take about 3 changes of clothes for the entire 2 week trip, so they can fit more in their suitcases for the people there.
I'm sorry to bring this all up, I mean, I know we have people here in the USA that need help too, but by God, if you live in the USA and can't afford floors or roofs in your home, running water, plumbing, shoes, food, etc. then there are plenty of places you can go for help. These people have NOBODY TO HELP, NO WHERE TO TURN. Their Government is so corrupt that you can't even send aid to people and know that they will get it.
So, in a nutshell. I am feeling so very, incredibly blessed right now. This is one of the situations that I think of when I start feeling bad about finances, etc. Sure is sobering....
So, all I ask of you from this post..........The next time you are really upset about the US, and your financial situation, the gas situation, and the fact that you can't afford a vacation this year, or that new car that you wanted, etc... Please, just stop for a second and remember the people that the world forgot about. And, how little they have, and the fact that they are just trying to LIVE. I try very hard to do that every day.. Sometimes it is hard, but I try to remind myself of how incredibly lucky I am..........
~The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people. ~
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