Speaking of Myanmar

So this week I've been wondering a lot about how I can help people who are suffering. This is an overwhelming question that is often on my mind. What can I do? Where do I start? How can I help? How can I give them comfort?

I do believe these thoughts were spurred first by the catastrophic cyclone in Mayanmar, second the execrable earthquake in China, and third the themes in the book I am reading (and enjoying, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister).

I want to preface my thoughts here by saying that, geez, I hope this doesn't turn out to be a downer, and second, please know that I am in no way lauding myself.

One of my first life changing experiences, an orphanage in Israel.

I think my eyes and world were pried open at an early age when I began to desire world travels. I wanted to see and experience what was out there. With my first experience in Ecuador the bug bit and I've never been able to get over it since.

But while in Ecuador, I saw things I'd never seen before- hundreds of orphaned children, other children sleeping on pavement, and extreme poverty almost everywhere. In Israel and Spain once again I found myself working in orphanages, surrounded by these beautiful, unfortunate children. As I've rode my bike through streets of Egypt, walked through refugee camps in the West Bank, discovered ancient ruins in Cambodia, and lived in less than fortunate areas in America, I have also discovered more poverty, more suffering children, and more help is desperately needed.


Here are some people I will never forget:

in Egypt. yes, she was alone, and that is a jawbone at her side

egyptian child laborers, weaving carpets

egyptian woman, rummaging trash

tired, hungry, sick. street children of myanmar. we gave our soda to the older boy, he took one sip and passed it around to all the nearby children until it was empty. no mom in sight

aren't they beautiful. boy thailand. girl cambodia

mother in laos doing her laundry as children swim. and we think doing laundry is a chore

Djella of senegal, africa. working in spain where legs are amputated. husband then left her and she found herself without work

Juana of spain. widow. house without doors or windows or fridge. found out house to be demolished

These images and many more are etched in my mind. And I think of them, these pictures, these people I've come across, and wish I could do more!

Did you know 29,000 people die every day from starvation? Did you know it only takes $30 to feed a child in Africa for a month? As I read the statistics on AIDS, Malaria, hunger, thirst and poverty they are completely staggering. And this is why I so often find myself overwhelmed and asking Where can I start? What can I do?

Well, the more I think about it, the more I think, do. Do whatever you can, wherever you can. Just do something! And hey, do as much as you can. Whether it be to send money or goods to Africa, donate money to church programs and other organizations, make a friend dinner, babysit someones kids, invite the neighbors to FHE, door bell ditch goodies or Christmas presents or whatever, say hello to someone at church that you haven't before, write a nice letter, thank your spouse, hug your child, make a thoughtful phone call, organize a food drive, visit a children's hospital, serve at a soup kitchen, give someone a ride, give a fast offering that hurts, give someone the benefit of the doubt, volunteer in your community, tutor/mentor a child (that's not yours), intentionally buy yourself a cheaper shirt so you can donate the money you may have spent, run in a 5k fundraiser, donate blood, visit a widow... man, the list is endless. Just do something, do many things, as often as possible. And though right now I may not be able to fly to China to clean up the rummage, or donate thousands of dollars to feed hungry children, or build Juana a safe and clean house, I know that there is a season for all things. And so I will do what I can now, with what I have now. I will. And I will certainly pray for the rest.