As we travel around from village to village meeting what certainly would qualify as the least of these, it is tough to synthesize into words the emotions I feel.  I think about the writers of the Bible trying to describe heaven with words that were inept at best.  They struggled to convey God’s infinite beauty while I struggle to convey sights of unbelievable sorrow.



I am so thankful for the opportunity to be here and regain some perspective of what is truly important in life.  Giving a new shirt to a little girl who’s shirt is literally disintegrating off her will give you a quick shot of clarity.



So let’s start at the beginning of the day.  We were cold and wet from traveling and meeting people as we went.  We found and $11.00 a night hotel and it is true you get what you pay for.


And I think I even got the honey moon suite



But is amazing what you are thankful for when you don’t have the comforts of home.  My shoes and clothes were soaked to the bone.  I was freezing and not looking forward to another night of cold with no heat.  I almost cried when I found a blanket I could wrap myself up in and stay warm.  I stopped and tossed up a prayer of thanks right then and there to God, but I couldn’t help but think about all the people I met earlier who had no blanket and would have to weather the cold rainy night as they had done a hundred times before.
 


The morning brought with it more rain but there were patches of sun and some life changing moments for me as we traveled up into the mountains to meet more families, some with World Vision Sponsors and some without.

The things we take for granted make a big difference in the lives of these people.  You would not believe how much joy a pair of flip flops from the dollar store brings to people who don’t have shoes. 

I got the privilege of sliding flip flops on the tiny, cold, and muddy feet of some children and as thankful as they were to me, the fact of the matter is it was me who is indebted to them for the experience.  It is a physical reminder that I must not only talk about my faith but I must live it everyday.  It was humbling to see the kids who only moments earlier were walking through the mud without a thought, walking gingerly in their news flip flops trying to avoid getting their one dollar shoes dirty. 



It take so little on our part to make such a huge difference for these people.  After my last trip to Tanzania my prayer was that I would not get caught up in the daily rigors of my own self absorbed life and forget what I had seen.  After seeing this sad side of the world again and knowing I want to continue to come here to help these people my prayer is that I will never get use to what I have seen.