There is ALWAYS a more difficult perspective

While living away from "home" on the missions field, it has become a tremendous challenge to watch our $25 to $50 monthly sponsors dissipate as the US economy continues to take its toll on who politicians have tagged "Main Street" Americans (Why does that label not feel right?). - For you as well as ourselves, we are praying and hoping there will soon be an end to the difficult tailspin affecting so many families.

With that said, here in Brasil we are reminded daily that as difficult as it is in the USA, there's always a more difficult perspective of reality. For example, we can walk less than 90 seconds up our street and find people living in conditions that virtually still don't exist in the United States. We can walk about 7-minutes and find ourselves in the middle of a slum settlement resting in the shadows of a luxury mall that I can guarantee is not visited by the populace of this slum. - Everyday we are visited with true life visuals that serve as reminders that there's always a more difficult perspective.

Here's the last word picture I'll try to create. As we come out of our "winter" season, there honestly were a few nights that we thought were very cold. Although I don't remember anyone in the family complaining about not having any heaters in the house, I do remember wondering as I grabbed extra blankets for the bed; did people living in the slums near us even have extra blankets as an option? While we at least have a real roof, doors that lock, and glass in our windows, what did it feel like for those neighbors nearby whose perspective was still more difficult than ours? As cold as it felt, what could I have possibly complained about? We at least had the option of trapping our body heat with the extra blankets.

And speaking of perspective; I am choosing to continue believing God's promises in Romans 8:28 that guarantees us that He causes all things... yes, even this current economic nightmare, to work together for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purposes. Like many of you, I cannot comprehend how something like this can be happening in our country; it's nearly unbelievable the scope of this problem. But, then again, are we not looking from a perspective of a people who have essentially had it all and may now have a perfect opportunity to learn what so many other people around the world have always lived with as their daily perspective? - If you still have windows with glass that may be a very good sign indeed.

Be thankful and please remember your monthly $25 - $50 still makes a significant difference in where we live.