Losing Touch with the Poor

This past weekend, we had the privilege of hosting an event at our home to raise awareness for the building of an orphanage and medical center in Eburru, Kenya to benefit David's Hope International. The husband and wife team behind the mission is Pastor Steve and Mary Njenga, who we got to host in our home for four days. I didn't know what God had in store for us when we agreed to host them, but it was more than I could have asked for or imagined.

When they first saw our townhouse, Pastor Steve asked, "How many families live here?" When I said just one, he then asked incredulously, "Really, how many kids do you have?" Oooh. When we offered them eggs for breakfast, they promptly declined and said, "We only have two meals in Kenya. If it's going to be a big meal, than it will be dinner so that we may sleep all night." Gulp. So then we gave them bread served on separate plates, and they asked for the family to share one plate. We said that we had plenty of plates and they replied, "Yes, but we don't want you to use too much water to clean them." And that was only the beginning.

I had received a fresh perspective from God, and had to ask myself, have I been living so long in the lap of luxury that I have forgotten the poor, the oppressed and the needy? Are my problems even big at all in comparison to not having basic needs? I looked around and saw from their eyes, all that I have and more: A stocked pantry which, if we never went to the grocery store for weeks, we would be okay. My children's abundant toy room. My walk-in closet with shelves of shoes and accessories. My multiple TV's, cars, phones, computers. What have I taken for granted? How can I have all this and not be flat on my face thanking the Living God every day?

Micah made a special connection with their 6-year-old son, Lucas. After seeing all our toys, he asked his mom, "Why do they have so much?" And Mary, unfortunately, couldn't give an answer. I would struggle too, if I were that poor, to see so much excess while others can barely feed their children? We gave Lucas a new tool set. Just one little box. His face upon receiving it was priceless. An enormous smile from ear to ear. He jumped up and down with pure joy and declared in Swahili, "I will show all my friends at home my new gift!" It cost me nothing to give the toy to him. It meant everything for him to have it.

We Westerners live on what is arguably the most lavish soil in the world. And we have some stuff, don't we? Nothing but boxes in our storage rooms labeled "stuff". The question is: Has this stuff corrupted us? Addicted us? Hardened us? I don't want to be guarded against a cold heart, I want a heart that burns with fiery passion for Christ and for a world He came to save. He had a heart for the poor and the needy. I want to take my place in the times to which I've been entrusted. Somehow automated checks to distant institutions and an annual love offering for Turkey Outreach just feels pale in comparison. I'm reminded it's not how much we've been given, it's what we do with all that we've been given that will count.

God is doing something fierce in my heart, and I am glad. I've seen the poor, I've been to the poorest of countries, but something about our little time together with the Njenga family has just broken my heart to the point that I am weepy over this people group. How can we serve? How can we pray? What can we do to be the body of Christ? There's a real trap happening in the U.S. when we stay stuck on our selves, and our own desires. We miss something incredible that God could be doing when we look outside ourselves. While this has been painful to watch, the pain perhaps is a great sign that I am thawing-- I am not cold anymore, and I don't want to be desensitized any longer. I thank God for having them here, and the small opportunity to provide them fellowship and a place to sleep, but most thankful for the impressions they've left upon my heart.

Here are some pictures from our time together:

Friends of Kenya having a Kenyan inspired dinner in our sun room. Pastor Steve later gave a talk over dessert.

My good friend Christy Germani, who was a missionary's daughter in Kenya, taught me a Kenyan Curry recipe. Rice, toppled with curry and loaded with the choice of peanuts, coconuts, pineapples, tomatoes, onions, mango. Some tandoori bread and light salad. It was a hit!

The Njenga Family: Mary, Steve, Kenneth and Lucas.

The three superheros ready to change the world.It's encouraging, isn't it? If they can do it, so can we.