It's been five days since we arrived back in Pennsylvania from Sanibel, and although I was really not looking forward to leaving, I've had no time to miss it because I've been super busy with college app stuff and planning for my summer schedule... it's going to be a lot busier than I anticipated, and I still can't do everything that I would like to! :( So, although it's definitely a bummer to have to go back to running with a hat and gloves and not being able to swim everyday, and although I miss some certain people and church (a lot), I'm happy to be busy here and looking forward to this summer and all that's ahead!
This weekend I was so happy to finally get down to Philly to visit Andew and Jen and see their apartment (and where they'll be moving!). I also got to visit my cousin Hannah who is getting her master's degree at U Penn. I've wanted to hang out with her for a while now and see her apartment, so I'm really glad we got to hang out and walk around Old City (and for the record, I know few people who are as generous with their belongings as Hannah is. She is an amazing person, so kind and thoughtful.... I always end up with some pretty nice stuff whenever I see her! For example, she gave me a giant pink suitcase that she didn't want anymore, which I gladly took for my overseas travels! I've never had a piece of luggage this big before... pretty sweet! Thanks Hannah!). We did look pretty funny lugging this huge thing down the sidewalks from her apartment to Andrew and Jen's, but hey, I have a nice big suitcase now!
So I've been wanting to go visit Andrew, Jen, and Hannah for a while now... why have I not gone until now? Well, the real factor that pushed me to get down there was that I was invited to attend a Sleep Out To End Malaria at the University of Pennsylvania. Today is World Malria Day, so to raise awareness for this curable disease which is killing a child every 30 seconds, The United Nation's Nothing But Nets Campaign held hundreds of Sleep Outs across the US and internationally (www.NothingButNets.net). At the Sleep Out a new documentary called When The Night Comes (by one of Invisible Children's founders, Bobby Bailey) was played, showing the horrific effects of malaria and the plan to eradicate it by the year 2015 (check out www.WhenTheNightComes.com). There was a big question and answer and discussion time after the film about what we can continue to do to help end deaths in Africa caused by malaria. I highly encourage everyone to watch this film, and to consider being a part of this effort. I was asked to be a Net-raiser, and you can visit my Personal Page to be a part of buying mosquito nets and helping to stop the spread of malaria.
When I think of why we should help others in need, the Bible verse in Luke chapter 6 which says "Do to others as you would have them do to you," always come to my mind. When I put myself in someone else's position who is suffering from malaria, or a mother who just buried her child due to malaria, I can't help but want to be part of ending this. Jesus said that we are to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also says in Matthew chapter 25 that whatever we do for one of the least of these, we are doing to Him. I believe that a big way in which we can love Him is to reach out to those in need and offer the hope and love of Christ in a tangible way.
But... while we are on the topic of helping Africa, there is one more thing I need to add. I want to make it clear that I know how often funds for relief work are misused, and that Africa is in fact worse of now than it was before the it received billions of dollars in relief work over the past years. I want to encourage you to read this book called Dead Aid that was given to me by a friend who wanted me to be aware of that many times relief work hurts the very people we are trying to help.
I have only just begun to read it, but I know that I am going to learn so much about why aid has really hurt Africa and how to go about helping instead of hurting.
This book was written by Dambisa Moyo, a lady who was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia, and has gone on to complete her Ph.D in economics at Oxford University. In her book she explains why Africa, after receiving more that US$300 billion in development assistance over past 40 years, is in a worse condition now than it was then. I look forward to reading what she says about it and learning how to make a difference in a positive way.
So, all that to say, giving to any charitable cause without knowing where the money is really going is not a smart idea. I believe that we should always go about giving prayerfully, and only give when and where we feel led to do so.
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