Jim's thoughts regularly tear me apart. This excerpt is from his latest post on poverty:
Several months ago, we began partnering with a Kenyan national on an HIV project feeding women and families who are HIV positive once per month. You may recognize hearing about him in this earlier post. A couple of months ago, Zack showed up at our door and said, "I have a domestic problem." The way he said it almost made me laugh. Then he explained that his wife was down at the hospital. They had been expecting a baby, but began to fear something was wrong. The hospital ultrasound revealed no heartbeat. They'd lost the baby. I was embarrassed at my initial flippant attitude.
He quickly explained that surgery was necessary but they could not afford it. The bill was to be nearly 400 dollars. He asked us for a loan of the money. He was frantic.
I was concerned; Four hundred dollars is over half the average annual income of 730 US dollars... an income most probably inflated by a few incredibly wealthy individuals - the ones driving brand new Mercedes, Lexus, and Hummers through dirt streets. We paid about half the bill as a gift and the other half as a loan.
I felt totally conflicted. Were we helping? Was a loan fair?
I felt like an idiot. How much could Zack earn as a piki (motorcycle) driver? It wasn't even his piki. I couldn't imagine his profit was very much.
Definitely head over and read it all.
