I Saved That One...

An OVC, (Orphan or vulnerable child) is child that has only one parent or no parents, one that is abandoned with no links to family! A child in extreme poverty, that is malnourished, and or with HIV Aides. A child that is 18 years or younger forced to live on the street.
This is an Orphan or vulnerable child defined by the culture I am now living in. They are everywhere! I see them every day and it is not easy! I used to see them from only pictures or on the TV screen or over the internet.
You know what I am talking about, all the children that look dirt poor with bloated tummies and flies in their eyes, rags draped across their bodies as cloths. These images and countless others are used to stimulate our sympathy and compassion. We see the pictures, video footage, etc. and begin to realize that we really don’t have it all that bad. Then it is brought to our attention that for so little money we can change the life of these little ones.
Many people then start supporting a child monthly, never really understanding to the fullest of what they are doing for this one little life.
Yet the number of people that do nothing is off the charts! I agree that it can be over whelming. The problem is way too big and what can one person possibly do? I use to think like this, I would then follow it up with a list of excuses like how can I be sure that my money is really helping or going to this child. This and other excuses like it were used to make me feel better for not doing anything.
I once heard a story that went like this. There was a man that decided to take a walk on the beach when he saw another man running franticly up and down the beach picking things up and throwing them in the water. As he got closer he saw that the things the man was picking up and throwing were star fish. As he observed he saw that star fish were in fact everywhere, hundreds if not thousands of them. He asked the man “what you are doing”? Without even slowing down the man yelled HELP ME! I am trying to save them, if they don’t get back into the water they will all die. The other man was taken back by this answer, how absurd, as he continued to watch the man throw one after another star fish into the water he said “this is crazy, you know you will never save them all” The other man stopped dead in his tracks, starfish in hand, looking into the other mans eyes he threw the starfish back in the water and said “I saved that one!”
Here we have two men one that is overwhelmed at what he see’s and thinks what possible difference can I make? The problem is way too huge. The other man who is determined to make a difference no matter how big or small it might be.
A while back I ran across a song from Beethoven’s last symphony done by a group called young Messiah. As I listened to it I cried and cried, it touched me very much. I want to share the words of the song with you.
Who is this child that I’ve never seen before? Who is this child that I’ve not seen till this day?
Who dares to fall asleep outside my door, if we should wait a while I’m sure she’ll go away.
To be involved with this would surely not be wise. For in the final words she means nothing to me.
I learn the trick is that we just avoid her eyes and the question what she means too….
What is this life? There will be other lives!
Soon to arrive, surely some will survive, she is but one and there are many more. She’s the same as any other.
Who is this child, what does she mean to me?
I close my eyes and still her face I see. She is but one, her kind is everywhere.
Can’t you see there’s no way I should care?
I need a moment now; I have to clear my mind.
Is there a limit law, just to being kind?
There is no way in life that each child can be saved.
Should I be looking with regret at every grave?
There are no guarantees in life, she should be warned. I’m not responsible for this child being born, I’m not responsible in any kind of way. For every child that life can gather.
What is this life? There will be other lives.
Soon to arrive, surly some will survive. She is but one and there are many more. Could this one life really matter?
Who is this child? What does she mean to me? I close my eyes and still her face I see. She is but one, her kind is everywhere.
Can’t you see there’s no way I should care?
Can you see it in the life; can you feel that it’s out there? It’s the harking of a life and it’s hanging in the air, though I try to close my eyes and pretend that I don’t know.
In my heart I just can’t let it go!
There has to be another way for me, a way that leads from this insanity. A way that leads from my destruction, as I say, can you see it in the life, can you feel that it’s out there? It’s the harking of a life and it’s hanging in the air, though I try to close my eyes and pretend that I don’t know.
In my heart I just can’t let it go.

Now here I am, I see these children every day they are no longer just photo’s or images on my computer and TV screen. I live with them, they are my neighbors. It does something to you when you look into their eyes and they wrap their arms around your legs or waist because they are starving for affection. They are filthy, many stink, but oh my goodness are they precious, It is impossible to close my eyes and pretend I don’t know when I am tripping over them.
Can you feel it that it’s out there? It’s a harking of a life and its hanging in the air.
In my heart I can’t let it go! Can you??? It seems crazy and over whelming at times but I want to be able to say,
“I SAVED THAT ONE!!!”

What....I'm not a Christian??

Last week I was at the market place in my usual hang out spot. Every Tuesday I go there for practicing my language skills, meeting people, and ministering /praying for people if possible. Although most people I meet have the desire to practice their English and I usually end up speaking more in my mother tong than in the local language. I normally let the conversation be lead by those around me which is very interesting to see where the subject’s always end up. I am there just to hang out, build relationships, and love on the street kids. Yet every Tuesday for the last few months it never fails, the conversation always drifts to the subject of “what does it mean to be a Christian, and what does that look like?” Most of the questions purposed to me are around this topic. I say questions because the conversation usually goes like this. I am surrounded by 20to30 locals from various denominations also including non Christians (or as they say in Africa pagans). They continue to fire away questions at me about religion, God, church, and what it means or looks like to be righteous (aka Christian).
In many if not all African counties, knowledge/ information is viewed as valuable. (Example) when driving in Africa and you get lost or are looking for a certain location. If you stop to ask for directions from a local, many times they will want to jump in the car with you to show you instead of just telling. It is looked at as I have valuable knowledge or information that you don’t have, therefore I should possibly get something for it in the end. This principal works on many levels, hence the people are very thirsty for knowledge/information/education.
The other day my good local friend told me that everyone around the market is talking about me. I asked him what he meant. He is a 25 year old guy that I met on one of my first visits to the market and now has been going with me every week. We have developed a great friendship. He said “I am there every day as I am passing from school and many people come to me, asking who you are and what you are doing in Burundi. They want to know why this Muzungu (white man) is coming every week just to sit at the market. They tell me that you must be an amazing man and love so much the Burundi people.”
When he told me this I was shocked, I never thought that this action would affect so many people. He began to share with me how so many people were touched with me coming and just being around them. That you don’t see bazungu (white people) doing such things. They are always in there cars or walking from here to there with their agenda’s very little or no interaction with the people. He said “Travis you just hang out, you come just to be”…
So last week I was at my usual spot, I was talking with many people on the usual subject. It was getting late and about time for me to be going when this woman broke through the crowd and with an angry expression on her face asked me, where is your bible? I tried greeting her as this is customary in the culture. She again asked me where is your bible. Followed by, are you a Christian? I said “yes I am”. She yelled “No, that is not true! You are not Christian. Where is your bible?” I told her that I have it in my home. She fired back, “how can you leave your sword at home? You are not a Christian, you are a pagan! Look at you… you have ear rings; you don’t carry your sword with you. I turned to the even larger group of people that I now had around me due to her unusual outburst and rude comments and made the comment that I was feeling a little bit judged at that moment and thought it was time for me to go. She then blurted out again “you are not a Christian, you are an antichrist!” At this I turned to her and told her that I was sorry she felt that way. Then I turned back to the crowd and told them good bye, I was going home now. Then sarcastically I said “I have to go home and repent because I just found out that I am not a Christian and this has deeply affected me, so I must go think about this and repent for not being a Christian.” Many people laughed and said their good bye others confirmed that they would see me later.
While I was driving home I was thinking about what had just happened and was very sad. It made me realize that it is incidents like this that keep people away from the church and God. I saw how we so called Christians are so darn good at ripping apart, chewing up and spitting out even our own. It is no wonder that Non Christians want to stay non Christian with public displays like this and countless others no doubt. It has made me ask a lot of questions myself. What the hec is wrong with the body of Christ?
Some picture of Christ we represent. It is so sad to see this happen. The more I thought about this the more it has disturbed me. That we brothers and sisters of Christ can bet so darn ugly to one another. What kind of bride was he coming back for again?? Then I had a strange thought come in my head and I had to laugh. It was “In every family you have a few nut’s!” All of a sudden I felt such a love and compassion come over me when I thought about this woman that was hireling the judgments and insults toward me. I got this picture of a little sister standing in front of her big brother and yelling at him over silly things. Now I can just laugh…
Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, daddy says “Love one another, and play nice”