One of my biggest pet peeves is when people associate poverty with danger. The other day I was talking to an American that lives here talking about how it is so difficult to find a place to live because no matter where they choose, there will be poor people near, and she doesn't want to get robbed. She continued talking and continued associating poverty with crime. This was like a dagger going into my heart. I have done a lot of work with poor in my life: in the States, in Honduras, and here in Costa Rica. Many poor have the biggest, most welcoming hearts, a faith in God deeper than anything I have, and a willingness to help their fellow-man that far surpasses most people with money. Of course there is danger amongst the poverty, but we have not been called to "GO" only to places where we feel safe and secure.
Fear can be binding, and so many people (including missionaries) live in fear of the people they have gone to work with. If we live our lives paranoid that we are going to be robbed, hurt or whatever other fear people have, how are we ever going to be effective missionaries. How is someone going to come to know Christ if they know the person teaching them does not truly consider them a friend?
My challenge today, is for you to decide to minister unselfishly. Allowing people into your life is scary, hard, and messy; however, the rewards for allowing people to truly be a part of your life are eternal.
Now go be a blessing to this world.
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