This was written in January 2016 after we returned from home ministry. We still wrestle with these questions as we seek to follow Christ:
We’ve been back on African soil now for about 3 weeks. Jet lag is over, but we are constantly figuring out what time it is for cousins and friends back in Pennsylvania and wonder what they’re up to. We’ve started back into our homeschooling routine for the past two weeks and are finding our stride as much as can be expected. Jonathan is working on a few projects around the house, helping to proctor exams on campus and working on his employment permit. The second semester does not begin until March, so this is a time of preparation and getting to some things that never seem quite possible under a full teaching load.
As we’ve adjusted back to life in Malawi, we’ve heard firsthand about the food shortage, rain shortage and rapid inflation rate. It’s hot. It’s dry. The corn isn’t as high as it ought to be by now. A bad harvest is expected…inevitable. “These are tough times” is an understatement for most, especially in rural areas where it is sometimes impossible to find the maize flour used for making the staple food of nsima. Many only eat once a day, if that. Not enough money. Not enough food.
I grew up seeing infomercials begging the viewer to sponsor a child in the developing world for just $1 a day. Those images and pleas captured my attention for the 2-minute slot they were in, but I could change the channel or go to the kitchen for a snack and tune it out. But now, sitting across the table from our part-time house helper or gardener or night watchman, doing the numbers, knowing that their income and needs will never match up…a feeling of hopelessness sinks my heart.
Well, today was Christmas at the Owen household. Only for just a few minutes, but we celebrated with our workers as we gave them some provisions to help them along beyond their pay. We weren’t here in December for the traditional Christmas when we normally give these gifts, so what better time than now?!
Will these gifts solve their problems? No.
But they sure were gratefully received. One said “today, we will eat!” Another said “God bless them! My business [of selling vegetables] is not doing well.”
The maize shortage, due primarily to the widespread flooding a year ago, has made the “hungry season” before harvest even worse than usual this year. Amidst daily rising prices, we also bought up three 50 kg bags of maize flour to have on hand to help our workers. Last week 50 kg cost 12,000 Malawian Kwacha (MK). This week it costs 13,500MK. That is a significant jump from Friday to Monday! Especially when someone with a full time job may only make 20,000MK per month. We are told that one bag could last a family up to 2 months, depending on the size of family. However, most people cannot afford to buy in such quantity, but get each day’s food that day, so the price will be higher for most as time goes on.
The questions swirl in my head –
When does helping out actually hurt the long-term situation of poverty?
When is it emergency relief?
When is it just my plain responsibility to serve my neighbor?
These questions are not easily answered, but cross my mind daily as I am confronted by beggars or greet our workers or merely peer out my window at the children playing on our alley.
What is my responsibility?
How can I love like Jesus would?