Are We Not all Beggars?

Last night, we found this perfect Indian restaurant and went out to eat with some American friends. It was probably the most well fed I have been since we left the States. I was grateful.

On the way home, we stopped and got ice cream cones (Ugandan vanilla is superior to American vanilla) and licked them happily to ourselves on the way home.

As we rounded a corner, we saw two little children sitting against a wall, one with a basket of bananas and the other avocados. As we approached, the little girl said "Bananas?" "No." I replied, although as I said it I wanted to give her all the money we had and let her keep the bananas. I heard her softly say as we walked away, "ice cream" and my heart broke neatly in two.

While taking the public transportation, I saw a man walking from car to car asking for money. He had only two soles for shoes, tied onto his feet with plastic trash bags.

During dinner, a teenaged girl crept into the restaurant and approached Benji (I think he just exudes so much light and goodness that out of 7 of us seated at the table, she chose him) and asked him for some money because she was thirsty. Benji instead offered her some of our water, and she refused and walked away. 

On the way to dinner, we passed a man who was obviously born with some sort of malformation. His legs are short and come out at an awkward angle on each side, almost frog like. He wears his flip flops on his hands as he crawls around. I have seen him twice on that particular road.

I feel overwhelmed with the suffering. Benji has fellow PEAT interns in various parts of the world, and they likewise share photos of heart wrenching things in Ecuador, Cambodia, etc. etc. Not to mention the amount of suffering at home, in the United States, in Utah.

I don't really know what the point of this post is, except that my heart deals with things by bringing them up and outside of myself into words on a page. Also, I may be casting out for someone somewhere to help me carry this hurt.

I know that the Savior of the World was born in and lived a life similar to those I see in this country. He was not afraid to reach out and touch those who were diseased or living in the dirt. I know that He knows the names and circumstances of each of these children of God. He comprehends all things. Somehow I will keep praying and find a way to give more.

Now please enjoy this photo of my darling brother.