Worldwide Poverty

I was having a discussion with Tiff Chin about the differences between poverty in LA and poverty in China, and thought I would share with you some of my thoughts to the poverty in China:

Poverty in China and Poverty in the States has a lot of differences, but a lot of similarities as well. I don't know if the city you are in has as great of a homeless population as Beijing, but when I stayed out there, I got a chance to really see poverty in one of the "biggest" cities in China... (Not at all saying that you aren't seeing poverty, I'm sure you are. I'm just saying that I've also seen it.)

I think poverty in China is a weird thing to begin with, because China, being a Communist society, should have done away with poverty and homelessness (theoretically). It makes me sad to know that even in a society that is supposed to have done away with social class and class structures, there is still a sense of hopelessness.

As I said, I don't know what poverty looks like where you are, but from what you say of homeless rings of beggars being run by one organization it sounds a lot like what I saw in Beijing.

I remember walking down the street in a "touristy" part of town, when a group of young children (probably 10-14 years old) walked up to me. Most were missing a hand or an arm. One little girl was horribly scarred on her face. It broke my heart to see this group of disabled children. My uncle (who lives in Beijing) quickly told me to ignore them and walk away. I was both stunned and ashamed at his callous attitude. But as we got farther away, he began explaining to me that in China, because they did not have many human rights laws, many parents sold their children to the black market to get out of debt or to get rid of their girls (this is also due to the one child law and the extreme desire to have sons). Once the child was sold to this begging ring, their arms, hands, feet or legs would then get chopped off, or their faces scarred with fire or oil. The thing about it is, they would do this on purpose!! The cold hard fact was that disfigured children tended to get more sympathy from tourists than perfectly healthy children. And sympathy on the streets translated directly to dollars and cents. So, you see, my uncle didn't want me to give money to these children, because if they brought back a lot of money, it would only encourage the "pimps" (as you so aptly put it) to continue this horrendous practice of hurting children for money.

I would find it hard to imagine for something like that to happen on the streets of LA. Not saying similar things don't happen, but to be so blatantly public, it would be hard for me to imagine. Homelessness is heart breaking everywhere. When people are forgotten on the streets; when the lost (not just spiritually, but socially) cannot find their way home; when children, the elderly, and the broken are treated like possessions and not people.

New Blog!!

Well, it's official, I've left the safe confines of happy xanga-land to start posting my own blog on my own webpage. It's been awhile since I last edited anything on this page and I kind of feel sad about that. I once had great aspirations for what this site would be some day, but it never quite grew up. Now, it seems I might have found a new home for my blog and a new use for my site. All in all, it's a great little marriage. Like all marriages, I think this will have some getting used to, some growing pains, and some mistakes. Anyhow... on with the show.

Today was a rough day for me. I had a little run in with my finances, and decided to meet up with an only high school friend who is now a financial adviser. I wanted to just go over budgets with him and discuss what were good ways to start saving up for retirement, buying a house, starting a college fund... you know, the usual financial milestones of our society. I was surprised as to how much money is considered "safe", and how difficult it would be for me to attain such goals.

I was then confronted with the ultimate question, would I give up everything I have been doing in an attempt to re-cap all that I could financially? Did financial security for myself mean more to me than my willingness to call upon God for help?

I have heard many stories in my day of missionaries who needed financial support and how God provided for them when all else was lost. It is easy to hear these stories and think to yourself, Wow, God really is good!! But, when your life is on the line, and your future is at stake, it is much harder to tell yourself, God will provide. Even though God has blessed my life so much in the past, I believe the daily sacrifice still hurts. And why shouldn't it? I honestly don't think it's supposed to get easier. It's tough following Jesus. And this decision continues to be difficult for me.

What will my final decision be? I will attempt to hold on to God's promise once more, to ask Him to come through for me. I will see what great things He has in store for me with this opportunity. I will step into His plan for my life and see where He leads.

I was talking to my roommates earlier today, and told them of the folly of my youth. I once prayed that God break me, and mold me to make me more like Him. I prayed that He take my life and use it for His purposes. I prayed that He begin to change my heart to break for the things that broke His. I prayed for His will, His plan, and His hand be above all of my own plans, ambitions, and desires. To my astonishment, fear, and excitement, He has answered my prayers. Folly of my youth. I have made promises to God, and He has made promises to me. And because of His love, He holds me to my end of the bargain.


Much more to post, MANY more developments, but as for now, I pray that God continue to lead me down the path for His righteousness and His glory.