Struck by Poverty

Last night I watched Diane Sawyer on 20/20 telling the stories of 3 kids growing up in the poorest town of the US, Camden, NJ. New Jersey is also the richest state. I was deeply touched by the story of Ivan, a 5yr old, who is homeless and when asked at school, could not even say the names for lunch and dinner. He has rarely eaten three meals a day and sometimes has had nothing to eat. Billy Joe, a 17yr old, trying to finish his senior year of high school, working 5 hrs every night to earn money to help his Dad feed his siblings and being constantly pressured to join a gang. Moochie, the 8yr old girl whose father is an alcoholic, and whose grades dropped as she suffered from the stresses of her young life. My heart cries out - how can this happen in the United States, a place where sports players make millions of dollars a year and a 5 yr old barely eats once a day?

I have also lived for 7 years in the 3rd poorest country in the world, Burkina Faso, West Africa. I have seen children who cannot even go to school because their parents cannot afford it. I have seen little girls, taken in by the extended family, literally working as their slave. I have seen young people who have managed to finish high school only to sit around the market because there is no chance of getting a job. I have seen and met people who have had nothing to eat for months when there is a drought and their crops have failed. They literally boiled the leaves from trees to have something to fill their stomachs. My heart cried out for them - they had no choice as to which country they could be born in.

As I have reflected on these experiences, I ask myself what is the difference in "poverty?" I have very different reactions to Camden, NJ and Burkina Faso. You see, in Burkina Faso, there are no social assistance programs - there is no money in the country. The villagers want more, know there is more out there, but they have no way of attaining it. I guess I can direct my question of this type of poverty to God. For it is He who chose for the Burkinabe to be born in this country. In Camden, NJ, these children also did not choose to be born into the situations they were born into. But they are in the United States - a country with money all over the place. I have to direct this question to Americans - how can this be that children do not have enough to eat?

In both places I have seen the incredible will and desire to survive in people. I have seen them making the best of what they have. I have seen hope that somehow one's life could change. In Camden, I see children dreaming to escape their lives. They can survive the odds. But I kind of feel depressed about Camden. Despite those that beat the odds, so many cannot because they are given no chance. I just get vibes of negativity and discontent. Whereas in Burkina Faso, despite the utter poverty, people were content, living their lives with positivity. I have had encouraging vibes. I have been challenged by these gentle people who have found a way to accept the life they have been given. It's a hard thing to put into words!

I must say that the direction of my heart has changed. I was called for a time to bring God's love and provision to the people of Burkina Faso. I learned their culture and lived amongst them. But now I feel drawn to somehow bring some help and hope to those who lack here in North America. May God give me the courage to learn and to understand the heart beat of those who live here in great poverty.