Monday, March 13, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Reflections

The purpose of the Poverty Challenge was to give me an experience that more closely emulates the people I serve so that I can better understand their lives and, therefore, bring ministry and teaching that more directly meets their needs.

One of the most important things I learned from this experience is how difficult it is to simulate a poverty situation without going to extremes. I lived on $3.10 each day, yes, but I did so from the comfort of my home, sleeping on my new mattress, and bathing with water that comes from the national system rather than a distant bore hole. Essentially, my experience came down to a choice between diet and exercise. Would I buy food that day (scant though it was) or would I ride the boda the four to five kilometers needed to reach our ministry location? Pick one.



Another glaring reality is that I prepared myself for this experience a week ahead of time by purchasing shoes, Bibles, and other ministry related items so that they wouldn’t come from my daily $3.10 allowance. Further, I knew that after the 10 days I could eat a proper meal and get things done that I otherwise couldn’t have. Those living on less than $3.10 per day don’t plan to be poor—the don’t wake up one day and say, “Honey, this big change is coming, let’s get ready.” Nor can those living on less than $3.10 per day say, “We’ll go see the doctor after we’re done being poor,” or, “Let’s pay school fees after we’re done with poverty.”

Though disappointed in how foolish this exercise seemed to be, I can also say that I learned so much just in the contemplation of these realities. Two big events really brought me pause. My cough was pretty severe and while living on $3.10 per day, I could not afford medicine. This was a very authentic experience—can you imagine having a headache and not being able to take any pain killer? What about watching your children cough up a lung and not being able to provide anything to ease that cough? With my cough came overheating. My body was sweating fiercely because coughing heats the body—that coupled with 90+ degree temperatures really made me extra miserable. The next morning I rose to push forward our ministry appointments despite this misery, but for how long could I sustain this.

Another event that stopped me in my tracks was the theft. During one ministry appointment a child stole my wallet which meant a LOT of money was stolen along with my cards. While this was a terrible situation, I had more money in the bank and could have saved myself. However, under the self-imposed guidelines of this challenge I found myself after dark in a faraway church needing to reach the police and then home and yet having no money to do so. Now I began to understand the African collectivist culture for real. When you get stuck, you ask friends to help. I was incredibly humbled that a pastor friend would pay my transportation home and that another friend offered two days’ worth of Poverty Challenge money to help me continue the agenda. According to the challenge, my work afforded me payment each day and so the next morning I was able to receive my $3.10 again. I used that extra gift to reach police again the next morning to receive a report that allows me to be in the country and then headed to the bank to report my stolen card and apply for a new one. None of these things comes without a cost. Imagine losing your bank card and not having the money to report it stolen, or to get a new one. If you are lucky, your money is there but you have no ID which is also required to withdraw and no bank card.

My own fixation on money was a disappointment. I was so concerned with spending only what I was allowed and how exactly that money would be spent that I left behind faith that God would supply my needs, which he did after the theft in abundance. This fixation gave me some insight into the frequency with which I am asked for money and why. I am thankful I didn’t have to ask for help that night, that friends saw the need and filled it. Oh pride. But if I needed to feed my children or take them to the hospital, I’m quite sure I would have had to overcome that pride and ask for help. From these experiences, I can see how someone could be living above the $3.10 poverty challenge line (which is not the same as the American poverty level), and quickly find themselves stuck because of the unavoidable circumstances.

Though the $3.10 Poverty Challenge did not take the shape I expected, I am most certainly humbled by the many lessons and insights afforded through the experience. Please pray with me for the 68% of the world’s population who find themselves living on less than $3.10 per day. Pray for development programs that allow them to raise themselves out of poverty for good and that they would fight against a victim or dependence mentality and for a way of thinking that honors God in every situation.

If you pledged (or would like to pledge) support for this challenge--$3.10 per day for 10 days—please click here and select “One Time Gift” to submit your $31.00 gift via PayPal.

If you would like to read more about what the challenge was, or to learn about each day of the challenge as I progressed, click the links below.




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Friday, March 10, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 10

Day 10 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began with feeding myself on the Word of God with a continued study from Women of the Bible, this week about the mothers of Moses. My devotion time was shorted by the need to prepare for ministry teaching today.

Today’s program began by leaving the house at 8:00 and returning at 6:00 following a full day of ministry-teaching at Faith Revival Center in Malindi. Pr Ephantus did a wonderful job with the majority of the content today. He is ever closer to being ready for independence, though we are still looking to develop more facilitators.




I hardly had time to reflect on anything today except that I had planned to get a few potatoes for dinner and the kiosk nearest home was out, which means no dinner. Today is the last day of the challenge so tomorrow I can eat breakfast.


Left from yesterday $1.65 plus $2.20 for today = $3.85

Expenses
Tuk tuk to venue                     $1.50
Boda boda home from venue $1.00
SMS                                        $0.20
Nuts                                        $0.25


I finish the challenge with a positive balance of $0.95 only because the kiosk was out of potatoes. So many thoughts are swirling around in my noggin about this experience and I plan to write a reflection post to share the highlights. For now, short and sweet and on to the pile of work before me.
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Thursday, March 9, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 9

Day 9 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began with feeding myself on the Word of God with a continued study from Women of the Bible, this week about the mothers of Moses and God’s promise to be with us regardless of our circumstances. Today’s lesson has me pondering the point of life. If our circumstances are irrelevant to who God is and his faithfulness to us, what is the purpose of life itself. I know the answer, but deeper contemplations ensued.

Praise God, today is a work from home day. Small piles form when I’m serving the Lord away from home and collectively stare at me wantingly. I’ve had some financial records to sort for work being done in Uganda, revisions to our curriculum, review of our recently received video recordings from the Nakuru training, travel booking, preparation for two days of training beginning tomorrow, and oh so much more. I’m thankful for the opportunity to tackle these tasks and feel the relief of their accomplishment.


Without the cost of transportation, I have the opportunity to use my entire $2.20 for food today. Unfortunately tomorrow will require more than my allowance for transportation and so I ought to be frugal once again in my choices for food. I’ve missed fruit and meat these 9 days, though I have not been over hungry, but the light at the end of the tunnel is coming.

As I reflect on the Poverty Challenge, I am once again reminded that I was able to plan for entering this time of feigned poverty and again am able to look forward to certainty that this time will end after 10 days. Those living on less than $3.10 per day don’t have that luxury. They cannot look forward to a meal with meat or a piece of fruit.

Expenses
SMS    0.35
Nuts    0.20


Balance $2.20 – 0.55 = $1.65. Hoping that plus tomorrow’s allowance are enough to get us to our destination.
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 8

Day 8 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began with feeding myself on the Word of God with a continued study from Women of the Bible. I was challenged to imagine what it would have been like to be the mother of Moses and the choices I’d make in her place. As I experience this $3.10 Poverty Challenge trying to imagine myself in the place of the poor, I am reminded of how difficult it really is to put yourself in anyone else’s place.

Today’s ministry appointment was with Magareni Preachers Organization. This group of village pastors formally organized themselves with the hope that they could accomplish more together than apart. Pr Ephantus serves as the secretary and has been telling them about Surprised by Hope for some time. Today I was invited to join him in introducing our ministry. These pastors were very appreciative of our offer and commented, “I’ve never heard of any ministry like this before” in a way that was a bit like a joyful exclamation. Their one question, “When will you come?” I thank God for the many opportunities he provides to serve his people.



I began the day with $2.20 and spent $1.70 on transportation and 0.18 on SMS messages. I remain with 0.32 for today’s dinner. I have a handful of flour leftover that might not quite reach 0.32 and when coupled with water can make a crude chapatti. I still have two tomatoes and two onions from several days ago that will make a nice katchumbari salad. Yum.
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Tuesday, March 7, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 7

Day 7 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began with feeding myself on the Word of God with a continued study from Women of the Bible, this week about the mothers of Moses.

Given yesterday’s events, I headed back to the police to receive my letter verifying that indeed I had lost certain properties including my alien card, which verifies my right to be in the country. After receiving that letter I moved to Barclays where I reported my ATM card stolen and applied for a new one. 


 Today’s ministry program brought Pr Ephantus and me to the outskirts of Malindi town to a small mud church called Neema Church (Grace Church). Pr Ephantus met Pr Ngala while in Bible school and I met him when teaching in Ganda. This dear pastor eagerly arranged for 12 of his church members to receive the Word of God from Pr Ephantus as well as to receive a new Kiswahili Bible. Pr Ephantus is a gifted preacher and teacher and the people were very happy to receive their first Bible. Can you imagine being well into adulthood and not having your own Bible?


 

 An additional blessing today came in the form of dollies. Many of you know that when a woman loses her husband, I sponsor a dolly in his memory. In this case, three have gone to be with Jesus and someone else joined me in that sponsoring. Add to that a dear sweet little lady is now also rejoicing in heaven and I felt moved to give on her behalf as well.

Dear Pat, we grieve for the loss of your husband, Gary.

Oh Mrs. Helen, you were the most precious little old woman I know.
Thank you for many fervent prayers on my behalf.

Dear Pat, we grieve for the loss of your husband, Gary.

Aunt Mary, we grieve for the loss of Uncle Jim. We love you and you
are always on our hearts.

Neither Pr Ephantus nor I had been to Pr Ngala’s church before and we significantly underestimated the cost to reach there. Having tried to book only those ministry opportunities that fit in my $3.10 Poverty Challenge budget, we completely blew it with this one. But look what the Lord has done!

Expenses
Today’s work allowance                                 $2.20
Unexpected gift following the theft               $6.00 (now I’m rich, I can eat all week)
Repay last night transportation           $1.00
Police and Barclays                             $1.00
To Neema Church                               $2.00
From Neema Church                          $2.00
Materials for Friday teaching             $1.90
Potatoes                                              $0.30              
Balance                                                           $0.00

Okay so I wasn’t as rich as I thought, but we were able to cover the added cost of ministry transportation today without any discomfort and purchase the perishable goods needed for our program Friday which would have forced me to walk about 6 km one way, praise God!


Today I reflect on the gift of work once again, I realize how thankful I am that I could “reset” today. After all that happened with the theft, I was theoretically able to go back to work and earn my $3.10 for the next day and basically remain in an unchanged state. So many of God’s people don’t know from one day to the next if work will be there. They cannot simply reset. They must ask the Lord to wake up the next day and find the work is available for pay. And how many times can they wake up and find no work, and not begin to wonder where God is?
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$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 6 The Real Challenge

Day 6 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge was a beautiful day loving on kids with Sensible Shoes, but it wasn’t without its challenges.

As all the tiny children posed for a group photo, a local child unknown to the pastor or teachers helped himself to my wallet containing a LOT of money and all my important cards. Discouraged doesn’t quite describe how I was feeling, and I have yet to sleep from that event that occurred 12 hours ago, but I want to share more specifically what followed.

Once Pr Unda realized I was not joking—neither of us could imagine such a thing—he and the teachers sorted through a few stories and identified the likely culprits. He then called the village elders who did some of their own sorting. While these elders were at work and the sky grew dark, the teachers and a few of the church ladies gathered in the church and began singing and interceding with prayer on my behalf. For me, they were earnestly calling out to God for me! Humbled doesn’t describe how I felt.

The range of emotions flooding my mind was ridiculous: stupid, sad, disappointed, discouraged, responsible…can’t think of any good emotions passing through me at that point though I did manage to say a few prayers as I walked around the church building.

Eventually we went to the police who sorted things with a big stick (literally). However, our lack of evidence (the wallet was likely hidden at the boy’s home and his mother was likely rejoicing as she didn’t bother to appear at police) left us unable to proceed. Pr Unda had the foresight to call his bishop, another good friend of mine, and so I was surrounded by long-time friends and pastors (Pr Unda, Bishop Tsofa, and Pr Njuguna) throughout the ordeal. Though they were all speaking in Kiswahili and I could only pick parts of conversations, I had confidence that they all had my best interests at heart. I am so thankful for these men and their taking seriously the problem and simply dealing with it on my behalf. Truly blessed.


I find myself reflecting on this boy, this boy who will likely live a life of thieving given the absence of his parents. I think about his soul. I wonder who will love him as Christ loves us (Ephesians 5:1-2). I want to hate him and think that he deserves what he received from that big stick, and yet I find myself wanting to hold him and teach him to fear the Lord. I reflect on so many children who grow up in this way, and do not know the love of the Father. Oh Lord, what can I even do!


I was given some few shillings to at least reach home safely, again humbled that these pastors who have so little would extend themselves to me in that way. And there lies the $3.10 Poverty Challenge. The reality of life for so many. The truth is, if this happened to someone in poverty that would be the end of them without the financial support and encouragement from friends and family…and that is exactly what I received. Not only did I receive enough to reach home, but I also received enough money to go to Barclays and cancel my bank card and return to the police again to get documentation that my alien card was stolen.

Expenses
Boda to church                        $1.00
Loss                                        A LOT of money, my cards, my wallet
Boda home from church         $1.00 (paid by someone else)
Glass of Juice                          $1.00 (also paid by someone else)                                         


Tomorrow is a new day.
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Monday, March 6, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 6

Day 6 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began with feeding myself on the Word of God with a continued study from Women of the Bible, this week about the mothers of Moses.

Today was an exciting day of Sensible Shoes ministry at Jesus Gathering Centre in Malindi with Pr Unda. So many people have given to prepare us for this ministry and the day finally arrived that I could love on these kids with their gifts. We brought 100 pair of shoes and needed 150 (which we will deliver today)! Wow, Pr Unda did a wonderful job investing in his relationship with New Beginnings school and bringing the children into his church.

These tiny ones were singing when Pr Ephantus and I reached the church. A joy to behold! After sharing our child-sized message about walking in the way of love (Ephesians 5:1-2), the children found it easy to describe ways to love their neighbor (as they swatted at each other given the close quarters). The teachers blessed us by helping fit the children with their Sensible Shoes according to class grade and we took many pictures of these silly, happy children.



Our overall purpose in focusing Sensible Shoes ministry in the coastal area is to pray into reality the future of these children as God fearing future leaders of the coastal province. We pray long life, spiritual strength, healthy marriages, resisting corruption, supernatural gifts, and so on. We believe that 30 years from now this community will be changed because we continue sowing prayers through Sensible Shoes. This part of ministry is one of my favorite, for sure!




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Sunday, March 5, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 5

Day 5 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began in a rush. I’ve not slept well the last three nights because of cough and finally enjoyed a full 2.5 hours that led up to 7:30 in the morning, just 30 minutes before I had to leave for the prison.


Once again I found that worship with these inmates was beyond compare. Do you worship the Lord as though he is your only hope? Though I do have some amazing times of worship, I know that I don’t have the sense of desperation for God that prison inmates have.

Choose Your Tree
The sermon, Choose Your Tree, seemed also to be a relevant and unique lesson to these men. I preached/taught about Adam and Eve and their choice of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life (still pondering its purpose). We discussed the consequences of choosing sin over obedience. We then added a discussion of Joseph choosing the tree of life (obedience) when faced with the temptations of Potiphar’s wife. We again discussed the consequences of choosing obedience over sin. Of course we pondered how it could be that choosing right and choosing wrong could lead to the same result—suffering. We came to realize that God transcends our circumstances. Regardless of where we are or what we’ve done, God is still God, still present, still on the throne. Twelve men renewed their commitment to put Christ at the head of their lives and to choose the tree of life, praise God!

After also preaching at the staff church, the Sargent shared with me the story of one of the inmates. This mature man was the principal at a primary school. One of the parents was unable to pay school fees and so after some long time of flexibility he finally had to say pay or go. The mother then tore her clothes and screamed that he was attacking her, though he most certainly was not. Because of Potiphar’s wife and her lies, this man is now in prison. He was refused bond and the lawyers say he may spend the rest of his life there. I am absolutely humbled at being used by God to bring hope and healing to this one man. If I spent all my Poverty Challenge money to reach that prison for this one man alone, it was worth it!

Widow and Two Mites
We most often hear this story in the context of being an onlooker, but today I was the widow with two mites. Wow was this a difficult position to be in. I am mzungu, I am clean and fat, I drank a bottle of water, and I reached the prison on a boda boda. When time came to give our offering at the prison staff church, I had 0.20 cents to offer. I have been making it a practice not to carry more than my allotment for the day so that I am not artificially comforted by “just in case” money and so 0.20 cents was it. Wow did I feel a sense of shame in only having 0.20 cents to put in that offering. I should have walked to the prison, though I already planned to walk home. I should have saved my food money from yesterday. Can’t I borrow from the rest of the week’s money that I haven’t yet “earned.” Can’t I break my Poverty Challenge? I should have carried the last of the potatoes and tomatoes reserved for today and given them. What will they think of me? I felt no sense of humble contentment in giving that gift at all, which is how I imagined the widow who gave her two mites felt.


Today I began with $2.20. I spent $2.00 on transportation and 0.20 cents on my offering. Tomorrow is a new day.
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Saturday, March 4, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 4

Day 4 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began by reviewing and refining my sermon for the inmates and staff at Malindi Prison. The message is entitled Choose Your Tree as we reflect on the opportunity Adam and Eve had to choose the tree of life (obedience) or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (sin), and that Joseph had in choosing his tree of life (obedience by avoiding Potiphar’s wife) or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (by submitting to her wiles), and the consequences that follow.

Apart from sermon preparation, I finalized the information page for pastors interested in Surprised by Hope. We have several pastor-only meetings coming soon and felt it would be useful to have some basic information collected in one place that clearly defines who we are and what we do. I also made some appointment bookings, communicated with potential facilitators, and tried (and failed) to sleep because of that cough that kept me awake the last two nights.

With regards to this Challenge, I reflected on the gift of work. My mother is a marvelous home decorator. She knew how to create beauty in our home and did so with small collections and special touches that brought out color and texture. Thanks to all the knick-knacks that went into perfecting her space, I always had the opportunity to work, for those many little trinkets were great collectors of dust. Always eager to have the newest toy, even as a child I understood well that I must work to earn what I wanted.

As I reflect on that gift—the gift of being able to work to earn money whenever I wanted something—I realize how few people have that choice. Even the most motivated men and women sometimes just don’t have any work to do so they can have money for their basic needs let alone for the new Grease record or the latest Barbie doll. Yes, the world is really like that.



Today I begin with the usual $2.20 and purchased a few vegetables for dinner. Tomorrow I will need $2.00 for my transportation to and from the prison and ought to save a bit today so that I can also eat tomorrow.

Expenses
Print 3 pages   0.09
Vegetables      0.85
SMS                0.11

I spent $1.15 and remain with $1.05 to save for prison ministry.


Please pray for good sleep tonight. The cough combined with the heat has really taken a toll on me. I want to be God’s best in ministry tomorrow.
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$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 3

Day 3 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began once again by feeding myself on the Word of God with a continued study from Women of the Bible about Potiphar’s wife. The challenge posed by the authors today was to confess the tendency to become emotionally or physically involved in an off-limits relationship. I confess the temptations are real and give thanks for the protection God has given me as well as ask for continued protection.

My time in ministry today was spent with Pastor Karisa, who is the leader of the Watamu Pastors’ Fellowship. We had a lengthy agenda and to accomplish it all he invited me to his home where I met his family and enjoyed a wonderful meal. Though we did indeed accomplish much planning, I came away from that day with a deeper sense of friendship with he and his wife—and his adorable daughter who was stuck to me like glue—as well as a sense of rest. We simply sat, talked, ate, talked some more, and finally made a small trip to what Mvera called “the beach” which was the mostly dry Mida Creek bed.




I continue reflecting on the Challenge itself and realize I am basically choosing between diet and exercise each day. Not exactly the reality from which the poor are making their choices. My Poverty Challenge comes from a place of having paid my rent, bought my furniture and clothing, and of having relatively good health (though I still have a cold). Believing that, though this may seem a ridiculous endeavor to many, the Lord will continue revealing truths to me that help me serve his people better.


Today I began with $4.17 and expected to spend $3.00 on transportation; however, needed an additional $1.50, 0.50 cents of which I did not have. Blessedly I had been treated to a delicious and filling meal with Pr Karisa and the night boda who wanted to charge more simply had to accept the daytime rate. Luckily he was gracious, brawls break out over such things. I had a few shillings left for SMS messages and left a few conversations hanging as my money completely ran out. Tomorrow is a new day.
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Thursday, March 2, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 2

Day 2 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge began once again by feeding myself on the Word of God with a continued study from Women of the Bible about Potiphar’s Wife. Yesterday’s revelation, that every choice to sin or not to sin is reminiscent of that first Garden choice, continues to play through my mind. Today, though, I’m reminded that the immediate circumstance in which we find ourselves making a particular choice ought not dictate our decision (pleasure or pain) and that God blesses those who have pure hearts and lead upright lives (1 Chronicles 29:17). What better reason to choose the tree of life?

I’d been putting off cutting my hair thinking some new style would better suit me only to reach my overheating limit after that long walk yesterday. This morning, I hacked it all off. What I hadn’t counted on was that the longer hairs needed no styling gel and the shorter hairs do. Whoops. Oh well, flat short hairs it is for these next 9 days. Just call me pinhead. Men here get their hairs shaved about every two to four weeks, this seems to be non-negotiable regardless of your financial circumstances.

Sunday I will be preaching at the Malindi Prison and so I spent part of the day preparing a sermon based in large part on the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife, and the various revelations and parallels to these men in prison. I also worked on talking points of sorts for leaders who want to communicate to their stakeholders the benefits of attending our ministry-teaching. I realize that less is more, but that’s not my gift for sure. We’ll find out how the first two recipients respond and adjust from there. Finally, I have a meeting in Watamu tomorrow with the leader of the Watamu Pastors’ Fellowship to discuss the April workshop and the August short-term ministry team program as well as some ideas about short business films filled with ideas for African startups.

Recall that I saved 0.23 cents from yesterday and add to that today’s $2.20 so I began the day with $2.43. Now, I know that I’ll need $3.00 for transportation alone to attend tomorrow’s meeting so I need to save more money again today so that I’ll have enough for that transportation as well as a small bit for food.

Expenses
Photocopy a receipt      0.03
SMS messages              0.03

Dinner can be another sandwich (only three pieces of bread left) (0.10 cents) with peanut butter (0.10 cents). My vegetables are gone and I was too lazy to walk to the corner to buy more so maybe I’ll have an extra helping of nuts (0.20 cents). If you think about it, a simple sandwich and some nuts is a pretty healthy and simple meal if I’m only going to eat one. With this, my cash balance for Friday will be $1.97. That added to tomorrow’s $2.20 will be $4.17 minus the $3.00 for transportation is $1.17 for food and phone. Seems like it should work out okay.


Today’s Challenge: Walk to work. 
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Wednesday, March 1, 2017

$3.10 Poverty Challenge: Day 1

Day 1 of the $3.10 Poverty Challenge. This morning I fed myself with the Word about Potiphar’s wife. I noticed a parallel between Joseph’s temptation to eat from the tree of life (resist Potiphar’s wife) or to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (give into her temptations). I wondered how my response to sin would differ if I viewed my temptations in light of the two trees.

At 7:00 am sharp, I set out on foot to reach Malindi Hospital by 8:30 so that I could have time to cool down and stop sweating before my meetings. Indeed I reached there when the temperatures were already at 87 degrees and my bottle of water was dry. As I feared, I was a soaking wet mess. While the distance is between 4 and 5 kilometers, the heat is what caused the most suffering. The walk between here and there is pleasant enough; all of Malindi is a beautiful place to see on foot.

Rachel is the hospital chaplain and welcomed me to visit their little chapel.

This adorable little chapel sits on hospital grounds and was the place of our
lovely prayer time together.

As it turned out, I had plenty of time to cool down because the doctor I was to meet was delayed. Next on my list, I set out to find the hospital chaplain so that I could introduce myself and Surprised by Hope and to submit the required letter of request to pray with patients there. Where I ended up was truly a Divine appointment. Seated before Dr. Ajuk, THE big man on campus (and directly under an air conditioning unit), I found myself making another introduction. Excited about a possible partnership, Dr. Ajuk requested the chaplain, the head of the nurses, and the head of the doctors (the friend and the man I had originally come to see) to join him. Now instead of separate meetings about separate issues, I was before the four leaders of the main functions of the hospital being asked, “When will you come teach us?” Praise the Lord!

Determined not to kill myself the very first day of this challenge, I paid a boda to take me home where I did some end of the month reporting and other administrative work.

Remember that we agreed after electricity, water, and grooming needs, I would have $2.20 to spend.

Expenses
Print letter         0.05
SMS messages  0.22  
Boda return       1.00


Dinner will consist of whatever I can find for 0.73 cents. I have a near rotten onion, green pepper, and tomato that will make a nice salad for 0.20 cents. I can add a handful of cashew nuts for 0.10 cents. I can add two slices of bread that will get moldy if I don’t eat it now for 0.10 cents. Maybe I can add a half scoop of peanut butter for another 0.10 cents. Honestly, sandwich, salad, and nuts is a pretty decent meal. I’ll have 0.23 cents leftover, not quite enough for one dose of Niquil. Maybe I’ll splurge on dinner tomorrow.

My challenge to you: Make your dinner using only $1.00. It's a great eye opener for kids and adults alike and helps us empathize with the poor in a way we never have before.
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