"...a birthday is a special moment in your life" according to Golden Spoon, sender today of my first "free food" birthday coupon of the year. Why yes, my birthday month is arriving in 1.47 hours. Thank you very much!
Two years ago I began a tradition of "donating" my birthday to nonprofits dear to my heart. It's not that I'm not a big fan of the Quest to Uphold, Advocate, and Cheer Katie (QUACK); it is admittedly a cause that receives much of my preoccupation. Yet, as attention, money, and care are regularly lavished on me, there are literally millions of people in desperate need.
This year I want to draw your attention to Heal Africa, a hospital working in the crisis region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ongoing wars in their region are largely caused by different factions vying for control of incredibly valuable minerals used to manufacture (wait for it) cell phone parts. The Congo has been called the worst place in the world to be a woman because of the unfathomably high occurrence of extreme violence against women. Rape of females of all ages is used as a weapon of war and has become commonplace from civilians as well. Many women are attacked in front of their families and subsequently abandoned by their husbands. Other women are brutally attacked and also left widows. There is no need for this post to attempt to describe the level of horror experienced by the people. Suffice it to say that I think it is one of the areas of the world in greatest need of our prayer and support, and there are not many aid organizations working there. Heal Africa is one of the few hospitals, and people travel for hours to reach it.
Last week a chatty Trader Joe's clerk asked me where I worked, and I gave a brief description of Joni and Friends. He asked what motivated me to work someplace like that. Not an unusual question, but my stock answers failed. It was a strange moment. How do you explain ten years of calling, routine weeping for people you'll never meet, foolishly particular job searching, mixing up your personal pain and compassion, and the utterly deep connection when giving your best for a stranger? Particularly to some random, slightly too friendly guy who's bagging your Mochi and chocolate soy milk? Usually my train of thought is two or three steps ahead of my conversation, but this time I slowly started in without knowing where I was going.
Me: "You know, there's a verse in 2 Corinthians that says, 'The love of Christ compels us.' It's my faith that makes me want to help people."
Clerk: "Yeah, I know that verse. My mom is really into that. She's always reading Isaiah."
Me: "'Is this not the sacrifice I have chosen?' -- to care for the poor and needy. Isaiah has a lot of wonderful things to say on the subject."
Clerk: "Yes, you really know your stuff."
The conversation continued only a few more moments, but my ruminations are ongoing. Friends, I might be called to work in nonprofits as a career, but we are all called to care for the poor and needy.
Okay, here is the handy guide to the underlying messages of this post:
1.) My parents wanted kids, their love spilled over, and I was born. The anniversary is coming up.
2.) If you want to commemorate the occasion, donate to Heal Africa.
3.) International relief, development, and justice work is a driving force in my life. It is a true gift to me when people join to help "the least of these."
