Yesterday after visiting the grocery store, the same boy who has come to me so many times before meets me at the door and mumbles something about needing money. And the haunting begins, I try to practice giving to those who ask, but something always feels wrong with this boy. So, I say, "No thank you," and keep moving. Was he hungry or is he just a shameless kid looking to get some cash. As we have written many times before, money is a whole new animal in Jamaica. While many of us understand the all-consuming nature of finances, when living in a developing country, it seems that everything ramps up to a whole new level. It happened again upon our return to Jamaica from the states, the poverty is shocking. And, that is even with an understanding that Jamaica is much better off than many countries. I wish I could ignore it, but it haunts me. For some reason, I cannot forget it and it really changes things for us, some ways good and some ways bad. Anyways, it was also yesterday that Jamaica began circulating the $5000 bill and the day that our grocery bill was over $17000. Minimum wage in Jamaica is just a little over $16000 a month and we spent more than that in one trip to the grocery store. We pray that we can learn everything the Lord is trying to teach us about money, poverty, and living with both in a God honoring way.
Yesterday after visiting the grocery store, the same boy who has come to me so many times before meets me at the door and mumbles something about needing money. And the haunting begins, I try to practice giving to those who ask, but something always feels wrong with this boy. So, I say, "No thank you," and keep moving. Was he hungry or is he just a shameless kid looking to get some cash. As we have written many times before, money is a whole new animal in Jamaica. While many of us understand the all-consuming nature of finances, when living in a developing country, it seems that everything ramps up to a whole new level. It happened again upon our return to Jamaica from the states, the poverty is shocking. And, that is even with an understanding that Jamaica is much better off than many countries. I wish I could ignore it, but it haunts me. For some reason, I cannot forget it and it really changes things for us, some ways good and some ways bad. Anyways, it was also yesterday that Jamaica began circulating the $5000 bill and the day that our grocery bill was over $17000. Minimum wage in Jamaica is just a little over $16000 a month and we spent more than that in one trip to the grocery store. We pray that we can learn everything the Lord is trying to teach us about money, poverty, and living with both in a God honoring way.
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing. There's always something to deal with, huh?
When we were in Jamaica for a work team, a long time ago, it struck me how content the people seemed to be. It was convicting to me because I felt so bad for them (compared to our standard of living in the US), but it seems they were the ones that had it good.
Anyway, we pray for you guys often, now we can just add this part to our prayers!
Even though a part of me would rather not be reminded of the poverty in this world (it is very easy to forget in the States), I am thankful for them and hope they change the way I live and give.
Somedays they do, somedays the don't, regardless... thanks for the reminder.
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