"There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Since my kids have arrived we've had a number of interesting conversations about US versus third world poverty and what is the accurate definition of the term. What we do agree on is everything is relative so, it is understandable that many people in the states believe we need to continue to increase the aid to the truly needy in America. But when we huge numbers of children sleeping in the streets and the many people with severe disabilities begging for food it is hard to compare the two levels of despair. Where to concentrate efforts and resources are a big topic of discussion for us.
I have found that I was able to block out a lot of the poverty around me because I had a job to do. Now that I know I'm leaving in a few days it is really hitting me hard. As a result, I am going through dollars like water. A couple of days ago we were at a coffee shop and two little girls were begging at the entrance. I bought them each a milkshake
and gave them a few dollars. Kyle took their picture with a polaroid camera he brought. Judging by their reaction when they sipped the milkshake, they had never tasted anything that cold before. They had also never seen a picture of themselves. Hard to believe. They left with big smiles on their faces. Such a small gesture but it still leaves me so sad. I keep thinking of that story about the starfish.
Starfish Poem (Anon adaptation of L Eiseley's "The Star Thrower", from Usenet)
"One summer day I went out walking along Ten Mile Beach
Where hundreds of starfish were stranded beyond tide's reach
As I strolled along the sands a kindly lady passed by me
Throwing stranded struggling starfish back into the briny sea.
I asked "Why do you do this when you can only save
Those few lucky starfish you throw back into the waves,
Why do you even bother, since most of them will die?
Does it really matter that much?" I asked and she replied:
"I cannot save all the starfish, many of them die, I know,
With so many more miles of sandy seashore still to go,
But for every single starfish saved from the killing sun
I think 'it matters, yes it matters. It matters to this one'"
Later that sunny day I went for a long stroll beside
A great rushing river, cold, turbulent and wide,
And there I saw some people wading frantically about
Trying to pull dozens of drowning kittens out.
"Why do you do that?" I asked them, "Why do you even try?
You can save one or two, but most are washed on by?
I know that it matters to each kitten that you save
That it doesn't get washed out into the ocean's killing waves!"
And then as I watched them trying, I saw another way
That all those other struggling kittens could certainly be saved:
"Why don't some of you people go further on upstream
And stop uncaring people from throwing the kittens in?"
I thought of Starfish lady and those starfish washed ashore
She was doing all she could, but other times you can do more,
Sometimes, you see, you have the wisdom to know just where and when
You can find a better way to make a greater difference."
So the big question is - how to do more.
We had a great meeting with the U.S. Ambassador a few days ago. He was very generous with his time and shared a lot of the challenges the people of Cambodia are faced with. There are limited opportunities and the average income is only $1,000 per year. The amount needed to survive is about $1,400. This sets up for some horrendous living situations. Kyle and Herrie were able to take a walking tour with me through the district where I've been teaching which depicts these conditions. Worse than anything you could imagine.
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| This little guy was with his parents who had the trash wagon behind him. They put him in front of me so he could have his picture taken. No clothes but the parents were so proud of him and all smiles. My heart continues to break a little with each similar encounter... |
