July 22, 2024
“And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me.” Matthew 18:5 GNT
I had the privilege of spending July 1 – July 3, 2024, with 7 youth and 5 adults on a Mission Trip at a Heifer International Global Village at Shepherd’s Springs Camp in Maryland. For three days we were immersed in learning about and experiencing how poverty impacts persons around the world. One of the first lessons we learned was how resources needed for survival are not distributed evenly around the globe. A sobering example was the need for three child nutrition cards so each villages’ infants (“water balloon”) but having only two.
Our group was diligent in caring for our “baby blue” water balloon from the beginning of the experience until almost the end. We’d finished having all three villages together around our campfire as together we prepared oatmeal cooked over the fire. Our bellies were fed, and we began to debrief the mission trip experiences. One of our chaperones was holding baby blue and describing other mission opportunities through the United Church of Christ. In her enthusiasm, she gestured, and to everyone’s shock and horror, “baby blue” fell to the ground.
No one said a word as we took in the scene. Then I remembered the rule: every time a child died we were to stop whatever we were doing and sit in silence for 15 minutes. I set my timer, and after a few awkward giggles and comments everyone sat in silence. I wondered how many children around the world might die while we sat in silence.
The answer I discovered was that at least 12,300 children have died from the ravages of war in Gaza in the last four months, an average of one child has died every 15 minutes. The silence became very sobering. If we were to sit with that reality, that is what the entirety of each day would entail. Jesus has a heart for children, as evidenced by his words in Matthew 18:5. I imagine his heart breaking for the world’s children.
We were reminded throughout the mission experience that rather than feel guilty and powerless over the immensity of human need around the world, we make little changes at home which add up to big changes. Since returning from the mission trip I’ve had an eye out for children, smiling whenever I am fortunate to catch an eye, really seeing each as a beloved child of God. I am keeping a few bottles of water in my car so that whenever I see someone begging with their children, I can offer a drink of water in Jesus name.
What might you do? ~ Anne
Wayfinding 