Today's cover pic is from a small church in the capital city of Lusaka. Our work is mainly focused on rural areas, but, as you can see from the photo, there are many in vulnerable positions in the city as well.
Hopefully you saw the midweek post I made - couldn't wait for this update to share about the happy community with a clean water source for the first time!
I wired March funds over late this week. Those will be distributed to our local leaders so they can distribute to folks like those in the cover photo to give their lives just a little more dignity. Maybe even taking some families from a few meals a week to one or more meals daily. I realize that sounds crazy to American ears who are used to trying not to overeat. But life is different in other parts of the world. No one is trying not to overeat in rural Zambia.
I am still, personally, working to find a balance where I am so thankful for the food and clean water so easily within reach for me, and the desire to give others something similar. To do that requires some little bit of sacrifice. But if Paul asks us to share our SURPLUS, then all that remains is to DEFINEĀ surplus and then follow through. Oh, yeah. That isn't so easy, is it. Let's keep wrestling together to get to a better understanding of what that might look like.
I have SOĀ much to be thankful for. Can IĀ make myself just a little bit poorer so that someone living in deficit can be made just a little bit richer? Will you consider that with me? I realize it goes against everything we have been taught here in America. We are taught to SAVE for an uncertain retirement. We are taught to give our children a richer life than we had. We are taught to look at our bottom lines and our net worth and grow them as much as possible without regard for that neighbor the Jesus instructed us to LOVE. Can we consider what we have been taught for more than just a passing moment and possibly REPENT in the direction of a LIFE of LOVE? Not an easy exercise. But worthwhile, I believe.
Take one more look at that picture. Those bags of shelled corn average around $5 to provide to these families in deficit. $5.
