Thursday, November 03, 2005
Kindred Spirits
I found this article and thought that it really summed up what I thought that I would be doing at 29 when I was 22.
(Skim the Nov 1st article about aid workers in Sudan and come back)
Unknown 'Soldiers'
I sort of have done that. I've lived in a foreign country. I speak a foreign language very well. I've dedicated years of my life to improving people's lives.
But it wasn't humanitarian aid - it was mission work, and instead of getting praise on Yahoo, I get dismissed as a fundamentalist or asked questions like "Does France Really Need Missionaries"?
I know how to address those issues, but this article made me think about some other things . . .
I went to Africa 2x while I lived in Europe. Once on vacation to Egypt and once with a friend to French speaking west Africa.
On my visits, I was confronted with my own wealth. The feeling that I had so little in common with the Egyptian men trying to sell me postcards was only diminished by the thought that they were only selling them as an excuse not to beg from me.
As poor as Egypt was, the poverty in west Africa seemed even more evident. Upon seeing a deformed child begging in the street, I was surprised to hear my hosts tell me that the child's parents had probably allowed the deformity to get worse in order to attract more attention while begging. Apparently there was enough medical care available to correct the problem, but the opportunity cost was too great. Now that's economics up close and personal!
The trips to these places strengtened my desire to reach out, but instead, I've closed the international helper chapter of my life for now.
I'm ok with it.
I hope that part of being 29 for everyone is looking back on the 20s and noticing where you've made deliberate choices for advancement or sacrifice. I know that I am where I am now because I've put myself here. I have no real regrets.
But I still want to help.
(Skim the Nov 1st article about aid workers in Sudan and come back)
Unknown 'Soldiers'
I sort of have done that. I've lived in a foreign country. I speak a foreign language very well. I've dedicated years of my life to improving people's lives.
But it wasn't humanitarian aid - it was mission work, and instead of getting praise on Yahoo, I get dismissed as a fundamentalist or asked questions like "Does France Really Need Missionaries"?
I know how to address those issues, but this article made me think about some other things . . .
I went to Africa 2x while I lived in Europe. Once on vacation to Egypt and once with a friend to French speaking west Africa.
On my visits, I was confronted with my own wealth. The feeling that I had so little in common with the Egyptian men trying to sell me postcards was only diminished by the thought that they were only selling them as an excuse not to beg from me.
As poor as Egypt was, the poverty in west Africa seemed even more evident. Upon seeing a deformed child begging in the street, I was surprised to hear my hosts tell me that the child's parents had probably allowed the deformity to get worse in order to attract more attention while begging. Apparently there was enough medical care available to correct the problem, but the opportunity cost was too great. Now that's economics up close and personal!
The trips to these places strengtened my desire to reach out, but instead, I've closed the international helper chapter of my life for now.
I'm ok with it.
I hope that part of being 29 for everyone is looking back on the 20s and noticing where you've made deliberate choices for advancement or sacrifice. I know that I am where I am now because I've put myself here. I have no real regrets.
But I still want to help.
