what the world needs

What a great whirlwind three days we had with Dad! He left this morning, after spending a full day at the seminary, a full day doing construction, and a day hiking up to one of 'our' (OMS's) churches. We arrived at the church right as school was letting out, and one our littlest hiker didn't quite make the hike back :). God blessed us both so much by his visit, and while we were all a little tired by this morning, the days we passed together were such an encouragement.

What family God has blessed us with! We don't want to make it seem like we never feel far away or lonely, but we are so frequently reminded of your prayers, of your love and of your part in our lives here. We truly thank God for each and every one of you, and the encouragement you are to us.

As we were waiting for Dad's flight this morning, we got to talking about everything that we have, and how at times it is easy to feel guilty about all that we possess in such a poor land.

"I have SO many more clothes than my students!" Matt said. While his guys where the same shirt day after day after day, Matt can wear a new shirt every day for almost 2 weeks. While families on the street scrape together to buy one cup of rice, I have a tupperwear container FULL of rice in our kitchen. We have glasses AND contacts, while our friends squint their way through fuzzy lives. We have so many things compared to the people who are living around us. It IS hard to reconcile.
However, we are realizing more and more that Haiti's situation, the world's situation, humanity's situation is too desperate and hurting for something like this to matter. The world doesn't need more clothes, more calories or more health care.

If the hope of Haiti rested in each family having a computer, or a phone, in shoes or in stocked cupboards, our abundance of shirts and appliances and snack foods would be inexcusable. The guilt would be consuming. But the hope for Haiti doesn't lie in any of those things.

The hope of Haiti lies in the transforming power of knowing Jesus Christ. And Jesus, the most precious and valuable thing in our lives, we are giving out like crazy. We're trying to pour Him our like water on every place and person we come in contact with.

This is what it's about, we're realizing. To have JESUS, and to keep Him in our homes, in the cupboards of our hearts...this would be inexcusable.

Please pray for us, with us, that we would continue to stay focused simply on pouring Him out, not on the frustrations of daily life or the things we have or don't have. In turn, we are praying for you...always praying for you, that while we are here, sharing HOPE with these people, that you are there, sharing it with your people.

It's easy to get caught up in the "many things" that could help this world. Praise the Lord that there is only ONE thing that is needed!