Posted in
Orphans by Seth Barnes on 2/21/2008
We have a
team in
Swaziland, that nation in Africa where
nearly half the adult population has the AIDS virus. I received this email from Gary Black in Swaziland today and it wrecked me:
"The team found a four week-old laying on its [nearly] dead mother yesterday, they kept it - we are getting it to the abandoned baby hospital Friday."
What do we do with this? That's my son's team down there. I don't know about you, but I'm outraged by a world that produces situations like this.
And while that may seem like a world away to many, for my son, it's as immediate as it is heart-wrenching.
The only thing that appalls me more is that so many of us Americans who can do something about this are more interested in stuff that will only ultimately burn up in the big fire.
God help us. God, help us to wake up. Help us to see how much you love the widow and the orphan. God help us to break as you are broken up over this four week-old.
God, help me to lose this tortoise shell religion that sheds these kinds of tragic situations like water. Forgive me God for not praying more. Forgive me for not emptying my bank account for your little ones. God, we have lost true religion. We have sought finer sanctuaries and better parking lots.
We have tried to fill our church pews with seekers, but we have not sought your children dying on their mother's chests. We need to see a way out of this mess that we've got ourselves in. God, help us in this 21st century mindset that we've acquired. I don't even know what else to pray.
* * * *
Gary has promised me more info and I'll pass it along to you as soon as I get it.
Please Father, let the wrecking of me create more of You in me.
We begin this wrenching process by asking simple questions:
"Why do women and children carry a disporportionate amount of the burden of poverty?"
"Why are the poor exponentially more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than their affluent counterparts?" It's obviously not because they are less moral.
"How has the Church's prohibitionist stance towards the use of condoms impacted this reality?" (Though the answer is obvious if you need statistical data if can be provided upon request).
etc.
Lastly, though i admire the spontaneity of hugh's challenge for us all to "empty our bank accounts" it's important to realize that such brash actions will not ameliorate the "systemic sin" of poverty. We are not called to "serve" africa out of altruism, rather we are called to live in solidarity with those suffering, knowing that our ultimate liberation (i.e. salvation) is intimately bound up with theirs.
The baby was unable to eat. Yesterday the girls took him to a clinic, which provided all the medications for free.
When the baby breathes, you can feel the congestion in his throat and lungs. Please be in prayer. The poor guy doesn't even cry when he's hungry because he's used to not eating. It's like he's accepted death. He coughs periodically - a pathetic sound. Check Aaron's blog: aaronbruner.theworldrace.org
Add Your comments:
Use this form only to comment on the article that you just read.
If you have a question, please click here to use the Contact form instead. Thanks!