Our Neighbors

I asked my daughter what impacted her on her first mission trip to Haiti.  She answered, "I noticed the difference between the kids that were in school compared to the ones that were not in school”. Kids that are in school, were happy, healthy, playing with friends and safe at school.  The kids not in school were sitting in the dirt or walking along a road alone. They seemed hungry and vulnerable, with some that were even begging."

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward them. Rather, be open handed and freely lend them whatever they need.”

Throughout the Old Testament, God offers specific instructions to His people about how to treat others. He instructs them to take care of one another, and He encourages them to take care of outsiders. He doesn’t leave the issue open to interpretation. Humans should have everyone’s wellbeing in mind.

This sentiment is echoed in the New Testament when Jesus instructs an expert in the law. He sums up the entire law as loving God and loving our neighbor. To justify himself, the lawyer asks, “And who is my neighbor?” That’s when Jesus gives the Parable of the Good Samaritan, showing that we’re all one another’s neighbor.

Our neighbors in Haiti receive so much joy every time a child is sponsored.