A lesson in giving

People sometimes ask me about the challenges of travelling and working in developing countries. I would say that one of the most difficult things is dealing with poverty up close and personal. Everywhere you go, it's with you. Years ago, long before I joined Floresta, I learned a tough lesson about that.

I had lived in Jamaica for a year, doing similar work to what I am doing now, and my term there was almost up. It had been a frustrating year largely because of trying to cope with the poverty. Just days before I was to leave the country, I was walking out of the local grocery store, perhaps feeling that frustration in the back of my mind, when I saw one of the local street kids approaching. This was not a major town by any means, but still managed to have it share of street kids who, by whatever means possible, managed to eek out a living. This kid was a regular around the store, and would often try and beg a dollar or two from customers coming out of the store. I have always found those kinds of situations awkward, and in this case it was made even more awkward by the fact that I was carrying a grocery bag full of more stuff than this boy had probably seen in months. By now I knew the pattern, I knew he was about to ask me for money, so before he could get the words out, I somehow thought it would be clever to turn the tables, and I said,"I beg you one dollar!" This poor kid, without even the proverbial shirt on his back, maybe 7 or 8 years old, had a stunned, even bewildered look on his face. He looked down at his feet, somewhat painfully I thought, and then slowly reached into the pocket of his filthy shorts and pulled out this tattered bill and pushed it towards me.

Such a simple gesture, and yet nothing short of heroic in my eyes. My request for money, I'm sure, was unexpected to him, but his response was even more unexpected to me, perhaps to both of us. I doubt if that boy knows what a profound influence he has had on me.

Few, I think could match the generosity of that boy (see Mark 12:41-44). Yet those of you who support Floresta are, like him, having a profound influence on others. I am humbled when I think of all of those who are making this work possible. Thank you.