ways to change the world: fast. pray. give.

i have been gone — for a long time. wordpress wouldn’t let me in unless i signed in again.

the reason that brought me back to this space tonight is not about myself. but it is about children. in poverty. after all, i am working in a holistic child development organization.

words. questions. pictures. they can’t describe enough. but that pair of dark eyes still taunts me. hopelessness. hunger. humiliation. even as i close my eyes, i see his — and my stomach drops. my insides turn. and my eyes well up. this little boy of ten has come to a conclusion of life that he can be nothing more than an enslaved quarry worker in the sun-scorched land.

“i want everyone to be happy. i do have desires. but my dreams will never come true so let me not have dreams at all”, said he.

my heart crumbles. faced with the harsh reality of poverty, this indian boy legitimately shoved aside any desires so he wouldn’t be disappointed by the impossible.

yet he deserves better, doesn’t he? to dream. to hope. to live to the fullest.

the story above comes from a scene in  58: the film, a movie based out of dr. scott todd’s “58: fast living – how the church will end extreme poverty”.  the bottom line is, according to dr. todd, “Jesus is decidedly optimistic that His people can end extreme poverty.” we are to not only be hopeful but to expect the eradication of poverty to happen in our lifetime.

pause for a second. what was your reaction when you read that last paragraph? did you just cringe inside? or were you filled with enthusiasm?

i know that for many of us, poverty is an issue a million miles away. we just don’t care. i was one. but the good news is — it’s not because we are indifferent. we just don’t know. but now that i have raised that up, will you consider read this post more slowly and visit this site? 

you will be changed.

habakkuk 1:5 says,

“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.”

it is okay to doubt but don’t let doubt eat up our passion for the cause God has put into your hearts. we can make a difference now.

on this upcoming january 25, i, along with others from around the globe, will be committed to praying for children and people who are exposed to or suffering from malaria in thailand. this marks the 1st month of the 58: global impact tour, which will take you online to 12 countries and 12 issues. we will fast together, pray together and give together. visit here if you want to know more of this.

i invite you, my friends, to take on this journey with me. we are hopeful because we know that the Lord is faithful. we are not worriers but warriors. thus, we pray and follow our Captain.

“hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing,

the dawn will come. you wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.”

– anne lamot