Skip to main content

Don't Let Fear keep You From Changing the World


We walked the paths of Bastimentos today. We climbed the hill to the top and spoke with a 76 year old woman who walks it everyday. I had a hard time jut getting up there. I am impressed with her stamina to say the least. We played basketball with the teenagers at the end of the path, on a real basketball court next to the beach. We laughed at the kids showing off their diving skills at the end of the dock. We had lunch in a tiny restaurant out on a dock. I had creole chicken and lentils and rice. It was 5 bucks. 

But the most important thing we did all day was talk. 

It is impossible to connect with people if you don't talk.

Working with the poor is not just about putting roofs on people's houses
Its not just about feeding people or buying school clothes.
(although those things do come into play)
How can we affect people's lives if we don't get to know them?
How can they share their troubles with us if we don't talk to them?

So why are we so afraid?
Why are we afraid to walk down the poor paths where the people look different than we do?
Why are we afraid of climbing hills into the back parts of neighborhoods where Grandma's have lived most of their long, full lives?
Why are we afraid of eating at off the grid restaurants with the locals?
Why are we afraid of playing pickup games of basketball with teenagers by the beach?
.....yes, the drug dealers were sitting nearby. 

Yes, we talked to them too.

In fact, everyone we talked to was happy, kind, considerate, and friendly.

The next time we walk the paths (there are no streets) of Bastimentos, we will have friends that will remember us and say hi. And maybe we will sit down and talk longer.

That is how friendships get started. 
That is how lives get changed.


Building Bridges, 
Laura






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mr. Flutter-by

Flutter-by, why are you drying your wings in the morning? Is it because the night is damp and the weight of the dew has you down? I know how you feel Mr. Flutter-by. I too need to dry the water from my wings. Perhaps if I stand very still you can teach me how to catch the first rays of the morning. Perhaps if I remain very quiet I can catch the small whisper that reminds me that I, like you, will fly high again if I will only alight on a safe place and open my heart and let the sun in.
Post a Comment
Read more

Striking Out and Hitting a Home Run

Two months ago, Lee was playing baseball in a field full of garbage with some of the kids on the island of Carenero. An 11 year old girl struck him out. Of course everyone laughed and Lee made his way down the little path that runs through the village where he soon ran into a guy named Javier. Javier speaks great English and is a business owner in the village. The two of them started up a conversation about the conditions the kids were playing in and before you know it, they had agreed to meet the next morning with garbage bags to do a little clean up. The next morning the two of them and about 6 kids spent several hours cleaning up. A week later, the entire town got together and took out 5,000 bags of garbage! And that was just the beginning. Two months later: A few days ago we walked though the village again. I was shocked by how many changes have been made. Probably about 75 percent of the homes have some change besides being cleaner and having their grass cut: new p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Refuse to be Safe!

I refuse to be safe. I have been back in The States for about 6 weeks now and I keep hearing this phrase everywhere. "I'm so glad you're safe" Does this mean I wasn't safe before? I keep hearing it everywhere, not just directed at me. Everyone is saying it to everyone. Like Zombies walking around asking each other, "Are you safe?" "Yes, I'm safe."  "I'm so glad you're safe." What has happened?! Is the world such a big scary place out there?  I see all over Facebook people talking about how they are afraid for people who are traveling, especially going over seas. I see people saying they will never go anywhere. LORD< SEND ME! How can we change the world if we are safe? I believe this is all by design. I believe the powers that be want you to stay home and watch your TV. I believe they want to distract you, disconnect you, instill fear in you. PARALYZE YOU! Don't let them. Get out of your comfort...
Post a Comment
Read more