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This is a tough one. Our kids have NO IDEA what it means to experience extreme poverty. I'd take it as far to say that no child here in America has experienced extreme poverty. Yes, I know there are many homeless and orphaned children here in the states but we also have water readily available, water is given out free at Starbucks if you ask, there are shelters, financial assistance, etc. Here we have many resources even the homeless have access to.
We've driven down the streets of downtown Phoenix and the kids have seen the homeless sleeping on the streets, we're going to make sandwiches for the homeless next month and use that time to talk about those who are less fortunate. That still doesn't even come close to what people in Africa and other third world countries experience. I think the best tool we've used to try and impart an idea of what extreme poverty is has been youtube videos. The videos on various websites, the child sponsorship sites, our own pictures from Ethiopia, and just talking about the amount of food or water that a child in these circumstances would get. Giving our kids a visual, talking about what KIDS their age do to survive in these countries. I don't even know if David and I really understood it as deeply as we do now having been to Ethiopia. Even in Jamaica there was extreme poverty in the outlying areas we visited. Having seen it, lived where they live, met the people, felt their need, its easier to impart that on our children.
The biggest thing for us is we don't want to just talk about it. We don't want our kids to just "know" about the need. We deeply desire for them to make a difference. For their hearts to long to help those less fortunate then them. To watch our kids beg to go to Ethiopia, our daughter wanting so badly to work in the orphanages, to love on the children, to teach them songs about Jesus, just to be there it thrills our heart. We plan to take family mission trips in the next year or two so we can minister together to others.
To be active. That's the key in teaching your children. Our kids watch our every move, they watch what we support, what we're apart of. What we talk about is important but what do we DO?
Some ideas. Check out 5 For 50 and help end extreme poverty. Or check out Compassion International and sponsor a child. This is a GREAT way to get our kids involved. They can write, build a relationship, and maybe someday even meet your sponsored child.
