Something funny happens to you when your heart is caught by something that you know you need to do or by that feeling that captures you soul that tells you you ought to pour yourself into a cause. Since I am a Christian, I call this feeling the Holy Spirit, the living God flowing into my heart causing me to give myself to something which I might not exactly benefit from, but only because He told me to. Others might call it something different. Nevertheless, what's interesting about it is that I have never even met these kids who I have attempted to help over the last year at Luz y Vida. But to those who know this feeling I'm talking about, that seldom seems to matter. For you know that someone out there needs your help.
But this is all about to change, because in 7 days I will have an opportunity to meet these kids. My church and I will be traveling to Bogota, Colombia to Luz y Vida, an orphanage containing many mental and physical handicap children, as well as normal kids who have happened to be a victim of the unrest there. I'm very excited about this opportunity, and I will be bringing my camera (obviously) but more importantly, I look forward to interacting with these kids and being blessed by them, as I hope to return the blessing. Keep checking this blog daily, as I will updating it frequently when I get there and will be posting pictures as fast as I can.
One other thing I would like to touch on, which has surprised me. I am surprised about a few oppositions I have received about 1) going to another country to help orphans and 2) going to another dangerous country to help orphans. The first group of people implying that we should be focusing on our country and helping orphans there instead of spending money to go to another country to help them. The second group of people implying that there are other countries out that are much safer, why not go there, why try to be the "hero" and go to a dangerous country to help others.
I'll address the second one first. Why go to a dangerous country (a country that has over 4 million-ish refugees as a result of a 40 year war of drugs and power)? To me this really shouldn't be a question. We do not blame (well most of us) soldiers for going and doing their duty overseas, we honor them for their service. Granted, we might blame the powers at be who cause us to be in Iraq in the first place, but if anyone has fought in a war (I have not), I would assume that the issue isn't whether or not we are in danger, for we can all run from danger but it doesn't really get us anywhere. Selfishness has never been a standard for the human race. It is not a matter of becoming a hero, I don't believe that Mother Teresa would consider herself a hero, I think she would just consider herself a human being who doesn't like to see others suffer, so she did something about it by going to the people who were hurting the most. It just made sense.
So if danger isn't the question, then what is? That is whether or not we should go or not. I met a guy in Mexico who was very strong in his belief that we should only help people in our own country. I belief that this is the most ludicrous system of belief. Hear me, I'm not saying that we shouldn't help our own country, I think we should help our own country more than others because if we don't know how to serve here in America, how can we serve a people who we don't even speak the same language? But to say that we should never help other countries is completely rediculous.
First of all, from a Christian point of view, I come to the story that Jesus tells about the Good Samaritan. An expert of the law asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. It was concluded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbors as yourself." But then the expert of the law wanted to be justified it says, and asks, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus proceeds to tell the story (Luke 10) about the Samaritan (who would have been in those days like a Muslim here in America) who helped the Jew. A complete foreign helping another foreign, which means that Jesus broke the boundaries of who we ought to help.
See, the expert of the law wanted to be justified, and hoped that his neighbor would only include his neighbor John Smith who he happens to get together and plays cards with every Saturday night. The expert would be in the good standings then. But that would be too easy. But Jesus lifted this idea that boundaries define our service. No it must be everyone, even our enemies.
Secondly, even if you do not have these convictions, why wouldn't you want to help others outside your boundaries? If you are most concerned about your country wouldn't developing good relationships with other countries most secure your survival? Instead of bombing them with bombs, why not bomb them with care packages? They might then desire to see your development rather than demise. But I cannot speak much on this as I'm not an expert on other world belief systems and politics, but just seeing how half the world hates the USA, I suspect I'm not far off.
Either way, we will be going for 10 days. Please stay tuned and offer your prayers and thoughts for us and the kids as we are there. I am very excited for this opportunity and look to keeping you updated. Blessings.
But this is all about to change, because in 7 days I will have an opportunity to meet these kids. My church and I will be traveling to Bogota, Colombia to Luz y Vida, an orphanage containing many mental and physical handicap children, as well as normal kids who have happened to be a victim of the unrest there. I'm very excited about this opportunity, and I will be bringing my camera (obviously) but more importantly, I look forward to interacting with these kids and being blessed by them, as I hope to return the blessing. Keep checking this blog daily, as I will updating it frequently when I get there and will be posting pictures as fast as I can.
One other thing I would like to touch on, which has surprised me. I am surprised about a few oppositions I have received about 1) going to another country to help orphans and 2) going to another dangerous country to help orphans. The first group of people implying that we should be focusing on our country and helping orphans there instead of spending money to go to another country to help them. The second group of people implying that there are other countries out that are much safer, why not go there, why try to be the "hero" and go to a dangerous country to help others.
I'll address the second one first. Why go to a dangerous country (a country that has over 4 million-ish refugees as a result of a 40 year war of drugs and power)? To me this really shouldn't be a question. We do not blame (well most of us) soldiers for going and doing their duty overseas, we honor them for their service. Granted, we might blame the powers at be who cause us to be in Iraq in the first place, but if anyone has fought in a war (I have not), I would assume that the issue isn't whether or not we are in danger, for we can all run from danger but it doesn't really get us anywhere. Selfishness has never been a standard for the human race. It is not a matter of becoming a hero, I don't believe that Mother Teresa would consider herself a hero, I think she would just consider herself a human being who doesn't like to see others suffer, so she did something about it by going to the people who were hurting the most. It just made sense.
So if danger isn't the question, then what is? That is whether or not we should go or not. I met a guy in Mexico who was very strong in his belief that we should only help people in our own country. I belief that this is the most ludicrous system of belief. Hear me, I'm not saying that we shouldn't help our own country, I think we should help our own country more than others because if we don't know how to serve here in America, how can we serve a people who we don't even speak the same language? But to say that we should never help other countries is completely rediculous.
First of all, from a Christian point of view, I come to the story that Jesus tells about the Good Samaritan. An expert of the law asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. It was concluded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbors as yourself." But then the expert of the law wanted to be justified it says, and asks, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus proceeds to tell the story (Luke 10) about the Samaritan (who would have been in those days like a Muslim here in America) who helped the Jew. A complete foreign helping another foreign, which means that Jesus broke the boundaries of who we ought to help.
See, the expert of the law wanted to be justified, and hoped that his neighbor would only include his neighbor John Smith who he happens to get together and plays cards with every Saturday night. The expert would be in the good standings then. But that would be too easy. But Jesus lifted this idea that boundaries define our service. No it must be everyone, even our enemies.
Secondly, even if you do not have these convictions, why wouldn't you want to help others outside your boundaries? If you are most concerned about your country wouldn't developing good relationships with other countries most secure your survival? Instead of bombing them with bombs, why not bomb them with care packages? They might then desire to see your development rather than demise. But I cannot speak much on this as I'm not an expert on other world belief systems and politics, but just seeing how half the world hates the USA, I suspect I'm not far off.
Either way, we will be going for 10 days. Please stay tuned and offer your prayers and thoughts for us and the kids as we are there. I am very excited for this opportunity and look to keeping you updated. Blessings.
Comments