Impoverished

Poverty is a funny thing. Not comical -- I don't mean that at all. No, I mean that it is funny in that it is often not what we think it is. Anyone viewing the typical Nicaraguan abode would say that the people here are poor. And they are -- materially, at least. But the definition of poverty encompasses much more than simply a lack of possessions. It describes brokenness. It describes the effect of sin on our relationships. I might be materially poor because of the broken relationship between man and creation -- the ground will not give fruit. Or I may spiritually poor because I have put my hope in the riches of this world instead of the promises of God. Whatever our situation, poverty is present. The relationships in my life -- between myself and creation, myself and other people, and myself and God -- are never satisfying. There is want! Because of this, Christians enter each other's lives as broken healers, humbly offering the little they have been given to mend each other's brokenness.

The following piece was taken from a message from one friend at home to another currently on the mission field. It describes perfectly the realization of one's own poverty that occurs when trying to share with strangers, and the faithfulness of God in working His relationship-healing power through the offering. The story is an allegory, and I'll leave you to decode it =) Vaya con Dios!

As I was praying for you yesterday and today I feel like God wanted me to share this picture that he has for you and your team. 
here is the picture / story. There was a college student who recently joined a new church and was invited to a church picnic on sunday. the student had never been to a church picnic and didn't know what to expect or bring but was really excited to be a part of the church picnic and invest in whatever way he could. not having alot of money or food, the student put together a sandwhich with stale bread and some mustard...it was all he had at the moment, and headed to the picnic but when he got there, he was surrounded by all these people with amazing food. Suddenly his offering of a sandwhich in the fellowship of the church seemed shameful and small. He wished he had been better prepared or knew what to expect so he could have done a better job. Just as the student was getting ready to leave. A family approached him and asked if they could share their lunches. The student agreed but showed that he only had a sandwhich. The mom took the sandwhich, cut it up to share with the family and then opened the picnic basket and added to the plates salad and fruit and more sandwhiches and fried chicken and every good picnic food imaginable. They fellowshiped together and the spread of picnic food brought even more people to share in their lunch.