Food is the big issue in Africa. When you look at all the recent riots and revolutions in the northern part of Africa, it is really about food. You could say that it is about bad leadership. But it is about bad leadership that pocketed money for themselves while the people had no food. Actually, the problem is pretty easy to understand. Food is at its all time high in the world. There have been huge droughts. And the political leaders have padded their own accounts instead of getting the food to the people.
Let me explain the problem on less than a global perspective so you get it better. I was just with my friend Jason Beagle today. Jason along with his wife Amy and their kids run a school and orphanage in Kitale, Kenya. Jason is an architect from Seattle who took his family to Kenya because he wants to help the poor and share good news with the lost and the least. There just aren’t any better people than the Beagles. They have fought all kinds of disease personally in their time here, but they persevere joyfully. It was funny as three of us from Puget Sound Christian College were gathered on a porch contemplating how to help with the poverty in Eldoret. What was unusual is that all three of us were from this college and hadn’t come together. It just showed that this college had sent people all over the world. What is even odder is that the college closed down years ago. But on the other hand, it showed to me that when some things done for the Lord die, they don’t die. Even though the college isn’t there anymore, it’s influence and impact is still living around the world. But that is another story.
Jason explained to me the situation at his school. A teacher there makes about $45 a month. I know that sounds bad, but the teacher is grateful to have a job, and most people make around $30 a month. He explained to me that the average family needs a big bag.of maize every month. And a big bag of maize costs nearly $45. As a result, an average family spends nearly all of their money on food. Think about what percentage of your money is spent on food? For most of us it is a very small percentage. Where I have been lately, it is nearly everything. And then there is the cost of wood. Kenya believes that it must protect its trees because of global warming, As a result, they can’t use most of their own wood. Now they have to import wood from Uganda which means that they don’t really have money for the food they need, but they also can’t afford the wood on which to cook their food.
I just spoke at a church this morning. Because I was an honored guest, they served me lunch. Not only was I served–I was served first. Not only was I served first–I was served most. I felt bad because I couldn’t eat it all. I hated to throw away my food when there were so many people starving. But I just couldn’t eat it all. They had given me so much. A woman who had been serving walked by me, so I handed her my bowl feeling sorry that I hadn’t eaten it all. I saw a few other people doing the same thing, but most were trying to clean their plate.
When I walked outside, I noticed a long line. It was a line of people in the community who were standing there hoping to eat our leftovers. So they dished out the food that we hadn’t eaten. All of a sudden, I wished I hadn’t eaten so much. If I hadn’t, they could have had more. Then I got it. If we didn’t use so much, others could have more. It really is more than a lesson of the slum, isn’t it? It is a global lesson too. If I consumed less and gave more, others would have more.
Lesson learned.
It sounds easy. But applying it in our ” grab for more, use more, waste more” society takes conviction, dedication, focus and perseverance. It helps to have someone beside you who is just as convicted as you are. I’m in!