The True Treasure

Yeah! the packages made it to Spokane, and now... on to Ethiopia! It's exciting to send things to the kids and really the whole orphanage. They don't get much there. I know the director of AWOP was telling me how excited she was that someone had donated a playset that would be set up at the orphanage soon - what fun for the kids!

Recently, I decided to do some fasting and it was wild to note my deteriorating thought processes as I it was getting later in the day. I don't know how many of you have experienced what I did, but I found myself as the fast moved on coming up with all these rationalizations why I should be done earlier than planned. After all, how am I supposed to prepare for my class I'm teaching if I can't think cuz I'm starving!?! And then it hit... oh yeah... that's what's going on every day around the world... and the reason so many children are being given up for adoption. So much hunger and despair - so many children who's brains don't fully develop because of malnutrition. I have the option any time to stop my fast and open the fridge (okay, so maybe it's not smart to do major shopping on the day you fast, or did the devil make me do it...) and get rid of ache in my belly. Somehow with my new perspective, fasting doesn't seem quite so difficult. Although I must admit, I don't know how Jesus did it for 40 days. Clearly, He demonstrated wisdom in choosing the desert for his hang-out - no refrigerator there!

My poor family - I do find that I shop with different eyes as I ask myself, "Are we really going to eat that?" The words of my mother come back to haunt me, "You better eat that. There are starving children in Africa." Yes, kids, I have turned into my mother. Mom, there could be no finer compliment anyone could give me!

I've heard of some adults who come over from poor nations standing in the middle of a supermarket and just crying. It must be so overwhelming.

It is sad to see so many businesses shut down with our economy, but I have to admit, it seems like it's time to streamline and simplify. Choice is a great thing and we're so fortunate to have so many of them every day. Maybe now we'll just make them a little wiser.