After being here just a week serving at Hope Enterprises Feeding Center, I think its time to be completely transparent. It's not possible to have experienced all of this and not be severely impacted.
As much of a positive twist that I would like to leave you with, I feel as though I would do each of you a disservice if I did not relay the actuality of the pain and suffering that we have encountered while serving at the feeding center.
"There really is no shortage of suffering on this Earth"-Karen. Whether it be in East Palo Alto in California, underneath the overpass in Eugene, the street kids, beggars, cripples here in Ethiopia, or in my life or yours, the suffering we experience can be all too difficult at times.
But God has been gracious and through time spent in the Word He has revealed numerous passages to remind me of His All-Powerful and merciful nature. I often hear lingering in my head- Consider it pure joy Joe that you are facing the trial of seeing My heartache. (James 1:2) Karen also reminds us, "when you serve, see Jesus, because that is who we are serving" (Matthew 25:40). The reminder that God is truly here in control has given me comfort within this storm.
Let me take you through my morning:
Breakfast- Imagine: At least 200 street kids ages 5-13, clothed in little at best, having inadequate shoes, lacking basic hygiene and having empty stomachs. I've seen too many children today alone that have been forced to grow up too quickly. Too many have not had the opportunity to just be kids. Loud, obnoxious, playful, running around, just being kids!! Oh, what an injustice that has been done to each of them...As I write this a rain storm has begun (something common to each day). Most of those kids will be getting wet right now, and if they're lucky to have found 1 birr, hopefully the sleeping spot they had to buy will have some covering.
Lunch- The tickets that people have to turn in to receive a meal describe the meal as "for the destitute." They're not lying.
1st shift- The elderly.
Greeting each with a handshake at the door, I try to pay the respect that each deserves. Crippled, blind, and frail they utter "Wat, Wat or soup, soup". You see, even though their bodies are weak and in desperate need of the beans and protein, they can't handle it. The injera (tortilla like bread) is tough enough.
Oh how I wish I could speak Amharic. To hear the stories these old men must have of their glory days would be priceless. But even to see their faces light up with joy when they are recognized is enough of a story to bring my tears. There has been one old man that stops me each time and looks intently in my eyes and says something to me in Amharic. As he points to the sky the only words I can really make out are Jesus Christ and Thank you. How excited I am to be able to find out how God saved his life when I meet him in Heaven.
2nd Shift- The crippled and maimed
Have you ever seen the Hunchback of Notre Dame? Take that image, make his left foot contorted to an unusable fashion used only to balance, and make his left hand his new foot. Or how about a man with the disfigured face from acid or a fire; He wears a head scarf to cover his face and when you first look Him in the eyes- if you can make it that far- the look of fear and shame is something you'll never forget. And then, when you smile at him...O when you smile at him...how that wall begins to fall, and just like what happens with the others, an amazing joy filled smile comes over Him. How I pray that He has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior so that I can hear his story too.
3rd shift- The women and children
16 year olds pregnant- too young to know about the pain of child birth ahead and unable to get sufficient prenatal care for their soon to be child...The majority are older, having multiple kids under a few years old. Most everyone carries her children on her back, causing deformity and most certainly severe back pain. For the 2nd day in a row there has been a small boy running around naked with an open shirt draped on him offering little covering. It's tempting to have a big smile and think about how cute that image was/is, until you realize that what he has on is it. It will be what he wears yesterday, today, tomorrow, during the last rain storm, this rain storm, and the next rain storm.
Oddly enough, some women have chosen the street; some have been forced onto it. Sofia is a 3rd trimester mother of 2 whose husband just died 3 months ago. All the money is gone and she and her family have been forced out into the streets.
4th shift- The men.
I can't. By this point, it just seems too much...Romans 12:21 comes into my head, "Do not be overcome by evil; but overcome evil with good."
Joy within it all:
I believe that Christ is my Lord and Savior, that He spent His days on this Earth serving men, women and children like this. I must remind myself that because of His grace and this feeding center, over 660 adults at lunch and 200+ children at breakfast are fed 6 days a week. Each of them have been given a little relief from this harsh and painful world.
How wonderful it was to be able to hear and see some accept Christ as their Savoir the other day. This is reason enough to have joy! Eternal salvation is offered and accepted hopefully each day by Hope. People are getting a meal. People who are shunned all too often by people like me are being served- treated as Christ would want them to be treated. OH! How there is great joy! I know it, have felt it, and have been blessed to be apart of it! I know I sound like a crazy man, and I'd be one of the first to ask the "Why God?" question. And how I wish I had an answer, but I don't. What I do have is faith that my God is real, that "The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11) and that our prayers are powerful and can yield change. Most of all, I have faith that since Jesus has already conquered death, he can surely conquer all that we have seen and will continue to see on this trip.
"Do not be overcome by evil; but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
