Cholera.

Seriously? Cholera?

I literally thought cholera ended with westward expansion.

And now, of all places it is here in Haiti.

So far 138 dead.

I am not one of those people that spend a lot of time wondering why God allows bad things to happen to Haiti over and over again. I am just not. And I am not surprised when things like this happens because (though we're ALL tired of hearing this key phrase) "Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere." Poverty leads to high percentages of malnourished people. Acute problems (like cholera) destroy life quickly here. When you're talking about chronic malnutrition, there simply is no nutritional reserve to sustain life.

My favorite Haitian proverb says, "Bondye konn bay, men li pa konn separe." God gives but he doesn't separate.

You're probably tired of me saying this but again I ask you-- what if the distribution of assets in this world were OUR job?

Why did God bless you with all you have?

Is it really for you?

Here is something I've been convicted of today-- I joke a lot about being a big girl. Here in Haiti, it makes me popular. (In the states it makes you sort of shunned-- go figure.) Here's the thing. When I lived in the states, I spent (over the course of time) THOUSANDS of dollars (I have no idea how many thousands) trying to lose weight. I am still a big girl. However, here I am healthy. I am active. I don't have to try to exercise, because living in Haiti is exercise in and of itself. But I digress...

What if years ago God gave me the job of providing food for someone in Haiti? What if I was too consumed in my own life and my own problems and my own pleasures to hear him? What if the money that I spent on Weight Watchers or LA Weightloss or Slimfast (etc, etc, etc) was not really intended to be spent ridding me of my excess pounds but meant instead to provide someone with their necessary pounds? What if it's one of those people who have died in St. Marc? What if it was meant for one of those people with no reserve?

No wonder big girls are desired here... it just means you can live through cholera, shigella and giardia.

This isn't meant to guilt you. It really isn't. It's just been convicting my heart all morning.

Remember the end of the movie Schindler's list? I am talking about the scene when Oskar Schindler is talking about how he could have and should have done more. He should have given more. If he'd only made a few more sacrifices, how many more lives could be saved? I GET THAT. It is impossible to live here and not feel that way. (Well maybe it is, but I can't imagine that.)

This is all I know. In the end, we will NOT regret choices we make to sacrifice our "extra" to provide others with the "necessary." We will not look back and think, "wow, if only I'd given a little LESS away to the poor, my life would be so much better." I just don't think that happens.

God gives, but he doesn't separate.

Think about it.