The Pool...

Yesterday, we went with another missionary family to a local public pool. It is outside and the water is very cold. However, the kids all enjoyed swimming for a little while. During our time there, Laura and I were approached by some children asking for some food. As we began talking with them, we found out that all eight of them were orphans that slept at a local church each night and received one free meal from the church each evening. Otherwise, they were on their own. The children ranged in age from 13 to 16. While we were there, I also began talking with another man, named William, who appears to know our Lord. We decided to go and purchase a bit of food for these boys and William offered to go with me, since I didn't know the neighborhood. We went across the street to a bakery and I asked him what he thought we should get. He suggested a couple of loaves of french bread, which were only about $0.80 each. We also picked up a couple of loaves of a cream cheese bread that I thought may be a little tastier for the kids. We then returned to the pool and the kids were climbing over each other to get some of the bread. William helped me settle them all down and had them sit while I divided up the two types of bread between the children. I couldn't believe how happy these boys were to get a piece of dry french bread. It truly shows how desperately hungry some people are.

In talking with William, I found out that he is learning to be some type of an electrician or electrical systems technician. Since he is still in training, I am sure he doesn't make much money in order to support himself and his family. I ended up giving him a leftover portion of the sweet cheese bread, since it would have been too dificult to divide between eight children. While he was very gracious and polite, the way he ate it gave me the impression he had been hungery as well, but yet, he had not even hinted in any way to me that he would like something for himself. Then, two of the smaller boys came to him and asked for more and he gave them all that he had left. It truly touched my heart to see someone give out of their poverty.

It makes me wonder if I am broken enough before God to give out of what the Lord has blessed me with, to the same degree William gave of his meager portion of bread...