Its no secret that the United States generally has a bit more than it needs. Now I am not saying that everybody has a comfortable life here, there are a great number of under privileged people in desperate need of help and understanding, they exist in my own life, closer than you think. But for those who do have all we need, we are so used to our way of life that it is difficult to understand what living in real poverty in the rest of the world means. In some under developed nations, more than half the populations survive on an amount equivalent to U.S. $1 a day.
Lets paint a picture for you so you can understand more clearly. You wake up in a warm, clean bed, you mosey your way into a steaming hot shower with running water. Clean water. You put on your pressed outfit which was thoroughly planned out, make yourself some tea/coffee in a kitchen which is filled with conveniences to help you do this. Then you get into your car, or local transportation to get you to wherever you have to go. Sound about right?
Now imagine waking up on a muddy, cold floor. Your body is unprotected from the insects which inhabit your home. There is no running water or clean water for that matter to bath in, and you are wearing the same clothes which you have been in for days, if not weeks. There isn't much to eat, nor safe water to drink in your kitchen, which is lacking of the essentials you need. You then proceed for your very long walk to work, school or to get water.
Sure, that situation is not everywhere, but in parts of the world this is an everyday normal for people. Pretty unfair and unjust right? No human deserves to live in such conditions. Would you be able to use this 'sink' as your kitchen?
After my multiple travels to Guatemala, and witnessing these conditions, the smells and sounds, I still find myself in a constant battle...with myself. Why? Why do I still feel that internal struggle that is not unfamiliar. I make the decision to travel to Guatemala twice a year. I make every day sacrifices in my life in order to serve as the hands and feet of the Lord. No, I am not tooting my own horn, it truly is not the works of myself, it is the work of the Lord, and I am honored to be doing this. But why do I feel this feeling when I am faced with these harsh realities of the world? Why do I feel like I am not giving enough, or I could be giving more? As a compassionate 25 year old woman, with so much love for those who need it, why do I feel like I am standing there cloaked in my armor of privilege? Why do I still feel so much guilt?
My theory on this boils down to maybe it is because I am in a position where I am forced to acknowledge my own privileges. While I am grateful for my life, witnessing real poverty puts a whole lot into perspective. I am forced to acknowledge one of the very pertinent differences between myself (people with a similar life, or more privilege to me) and the less privileged. This difference exists simply because I was born under different circumstances. What if I were born in a developing country? that could be me, that could be you.
Here in the States, there are homeless. There are people begging. There are people who need assistance. But despite that, there is an un-mistakeable lack of poverty which is to the level of poverty in developing countries. Popultions in developing countries do not have assistance from their governments, or systems in place to help them. Their struggle to survive is on their own, or from people such as you and I who choose to give back. The differences can be categorized by '1st World "Poor" vs. '3rd World "Poor" if you are in a first world country, such as the U.S., you have the freedom to be financially stable, you have to remember you are capable, and you cant be too proud to utilize the assistance. I am not saying this means people should not help those who are in need in first world countries, I believe that you should follow your tug and help those whom your heart tells you to, whether they are in a first or third world country. No one deserves to go hungry, or not have safe shelter. I give back locally, and internationally, and internationally is where most of my volunteering efforts go, based on my own personal experiences. This can be a very controversial topic, and one that you will either agree or disagree on, and I am OK with that. it is all personal perspective, and one that I stand strong behind after experiencing such poverty first hand.
Not a day goes by where I do not think of or pray for those I have come across in Guatemala, and those whom I have yet to meet. The realities I have faced have molded me to become who I am and continue to shape me each and every day. I have accepted the fact that I will feel those feelings of guilt, for which reasons I have expressed above. And that is ok. I just have to not beat myself up over it. I have to remember that I am doing all that I can to help this global crisis. Each opportunity I have where I can give back, lend a helping hand, or give a smile to a needing heart, I am grateful. I am grateful because while I may not feel like I am doing enough, I am making a positive impact, no matter how small. Maybe I will teach someone how to not only take action to bring the change, but inspire others to join in on the journey to bring positive change to this world.
