The Rest of the Story

Being joined...

I was a little emotional yesterday.  It’s hard seeing friends so hungry.  When I visited my leader later in the day I found out they had given the family money to start a chicken business and some money to tide them over.  Rather than be angry that they were asking me for food as well I realized a few things.

Now that I’m calmer the reality is that there is money flow here.  There are “wealthier” native people buying things that puts money into the economy.  So, there is some money!  I also realized that the problem with the hunger here in Toliara goes back to their worldview, as the Transformational Development methodology suggests.  For example, in the case of this family, it’s not a matter of not having money or even opportunity.  Both were handed to them.  The problem isn’t even that they are lazy, even though it seems that way.  As my missionary friend told me back in Tana, the problem is likely that the people have a low self-image.  They don’t see themselves as God does – made in His image.  Remembering back to one of my Perspectives classes I learned that the way to change poverty is to transform the minds of those in poverty, and the only way to be really be transformed for life is through Jesus.  I have always questioned how to be a part of this, how to help see transformation in the people I work with.  Do I just teach the Bible and hope that when people come to Christ they will get themselves out of their poverty?  I think there is a possibility in this, but I also think that specifically teaching people about their worth in God’s eyes is needed.  With this in mind, I am praying for the path to teaching Transformational Development to my friends here in Toliara.  I would love your prayers as well.