I was apart of some meetings, teachings & discussions this weekend about the poor and I must say I feel a little undone, in the best way possible.
There is a group of people called Servants to Asia's Urban Poor (www.servantsasia.org) and I have a bit of a crush on them. They are all about incarnational ministry to the poor and the least.
To be with them and some of their team this weekend was quite an experience. I would say I feel my heart feels heavy, but its heavy only in the sense of being full.
I have a friend who went to Cambodia with Servants for about 7 weeks, and that inspired me to read the book 'Urban Halo' by Craig Greenfield, it is about their work in Cambodia.
I remember being in Chicago at the Hilton Garden Inn having the breakfast buffet with tears streaming down my face as I finished reading the book. Something in my soul was overwhelmed that people were "doing" missions like these guys.
This past weekend I was able to have some really good conversations with Craig and now have a killer reading list. I am about to plow through it with promises of more recommendations to come from him.
Craig his wife and kids are now in Vancouver living along side addicts and the the broken (or I should say the more visibly broken ones) in a communal house. Together with others they are unfolding what it looks like to do live the way they did in the slums of Cambodia in the West.
Which is something I have been tossing about in my head the last few years.
I don't necessarily feel I will be packing my bags for Jakarta, but i am asking God to expand my heart for the "least of these".
I don't want the poor to be on my "to do" list that I can check off every month.
Jesus called them 'blessed' and I want to know why.
I think that will involve simplifying my life and spending some time with the poor, learning from them, making space in my heart.
I am starting my reading adventures with a book I have owned for a few years but have not been brave enough to read- 'Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger' by Ronald Sider.
It's been around a long time I think my 1997 copy is the 5th edition.
I think its one of those that some church book stores would not carry. Not very consumer-driven church friendly if you know what I mean.
So here's to the further process of my un-doing. We will see how this goes...
other random news...
I just made a phone call to a midwife to chat about the process of becoming a midwife. I worked with midwifes in Texas years ago. I was helping with a crisis pregnancy home as a birthing coach- random I know, but I loved it. I love midwives they are pretty cool gals.
It's the one thing that has stuck in my spinning thoughts over the past 10 years when I think 'what do I want to be when I grow up?', so I think I will begin the process.
I love the idea that if I find myself with a third world country address, I could use the skills there as well.
Who said my business card can't say "Artist Liaison/Midwife" I will just have to plan my travel around births. heh
We will see what happens, it takes a boat load of book reading.
I am sure the guys will love me carrying birth book around on the road.... revenge has come!!
I think I will tell them I have to read aloud to retain the knowledge.
Who knows maybe I will be in Cambodia someday and get to help deliver something a beautiful as this...
Thanks Laura for sharing your pictures of Jakarta and Cambodia, they cause my heart to stutter...
