the Win.

Amanda, one of the girls on my team, went to the kitchen to throw away what was left of her lunch this afternoon. As she stood in front of the trash, she held the piece of crust in her hand, staring intently at the stale bread soaked with honey and peanut butter. "I feel awful throwing this away.." she said, as she held up her last inch of sandwich for us to see. None of us spoke as we silently understood the thoughts running through each other's minds. People aren't just hungry here...they're starving. And though we don't have much as a full time missionary, we have  whole lot more than the common man living in Africa.

As we sat around the living room processing our thoughts, the Lord finally revealed to us the obvious.  

A few posts back, I shared my heart with you about losing the battle to every beggar. Since coming here, those thoughts have continued to wrestle in me as I've been seeking to find the Lord's victory in it. And today, God showed us "the Win." Rather than giving money every time to the beggars, the girls and I have decided to pack an extra sandwich every morning before we leave the house. Instead of feeding into their stereotype that every white American is rich and every black African is poor, and instead of walking past them not giving them anything, we are going to feed them with what they really need; food and love. It makes me think of what Jesus would do if he were here, walking on the very streets we walk on every day. If a beggar approached him, he wouldn't just toss him a couple Rands and walk away. Nor do I think he would walk past him and pray. I think if Jesus was here, he would have compassion on the man and approach him humbly, just as he did throughout Scripture. He would offer the beggar food; exactly what the beggar needs. Then he would speak with the man in grace, truth, and love. As God's hands and feet, that's exactly what we want to do.

We're all really excited to see God win tomorrow...

"Then when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. "Remove the heavy yoke of oppression..Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring."

Isaiah 58:9-11