One butt cheek off the bench because we are a big group in a small coffee shop. With tea because I don’t like coffee.
We have been in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, for about two weeks now. Our ministry has consisted of demolishing classrooms that a school doesn’t need anymore and salvaging parts. And doing repairs on the classrooms that they need. We are living in bunkhouses with the whole squad. School started on the 17th, so we have done kids ministry for the past two days. Yesterday, we ran field day games all day for 3rd through 7th grade.
J-Bay has been good but has been weird. It is very American, unlike what life has been like for the past four months for us. We are used to having a maximum of one restaurant in our vicinity. It makes you question what you need and what truly brings you joy. Christian America has a tendency to have sympathy for the “less fortunate.” And there is definitely some good in those feelings, and it is even biblical. The Bible calls us to feed the orphans and the widows. And to live a life of radical generosity.
But there is danger in letting our American perspective trump our Biblical one. There is a spiritual richness and overall joy that having less money provides. Cambodia and Thailand had some of the nicest people ever. In Cambodia, the economy is terrible, and their government is corrupt. And yet, there is joy everywhere; and they live in cinderblock houses with tin roofs. Now we are in J-Bay, and just from a city perspective, it feels colder people are less friendly. We have been warned of heavy crime and theft and are told not to trust anyone.
This isn’t me condemning anyone or America. It is just food for thought: do we really need all the things we think we do? Is living life lavishly all it is cracked up to be? Is living the American dream in a two-story house with a white picket fence what life is truly about? Does this lead to true joy?
Jesus, when he was doing ministry had nothing.
Love you all, truly.
-Drew McKinney
P.S. This one felt a little harsh. It wasn’t intended to be just my thoughts. Take them with a grain of salt. It is just supposed to get people thinking.
You CAN live in a 2-story house with a white picket fence, and HAVE true joy, but not BECAUSE of the 2-story house and white picket fence. One of the valuable truths that seems to always come home when people go on mission trips.
Can you believe we got somewhere around 10 inches of snow here??!! Crazy!! It’s been BEAUTIFUL!!! And our hill, as you can imagine, is a great place for sledding-and this time it didn’t go away in a few hours! Started Sunday night, and it’s Friday, and it’s still here!!!
Love you!
Aunt Baba
I would agree with Elizabeth on your blog. Wealth can do many good things. Following Jesus and having Joy have nothing to do with how much money you have.
You have missed the snow of the decade! We still can’t get out. Iced over last night. Love you and be safe. Nana
I won’t try to add to the wisdom already given in your blog and the responses above, but would ask a question. . The question is for all of us, big house, little house, or no house. What kind of house should I live in? (How will I know?) The proper perspective comes from John 7: 17. What does not knowing until I am willing look like? I guess more importantly, how is that lived out?
Love the way you are thinking and processing in your blog. You had me at the title on this one.
I agree with all of the above (blog and comments)…I think, as you and I have discussed, it is definitely easier to depend on Jesus when life isn’t so comfortable. I think that is the vision you’re catching…