"Project Experience, a guided walk-through exhibit showing the many issues our missionaries encounter on the field, as well as the ministries we support both globally and locally. It will provide a hands-on connection to our local and world-wide partnerships."
I have heard about Project Experience from some of our staff, volunteers and teens b/c it was set up at a Life conference last Summer for our Youth. I never imagined it was going to be what it was. As I started I was handed a passport, fake of course but the start of my journey through Project Experience. I remember so clearly the first area we came to. A bunch of 40lb water jugs set up on one end of the floor..as I looked around I saw pictures of little kids, I'm talking under 8 years old pulling, carrying, doing whatever they could to bring clean water back to their families. I was told by our tour guide to try lifting and walking with one. They were heavy and honestly I could not even imagine walking a 100 ft with it let alone miles. I could not fathom Joshua (my 5 year old) having to walk miles and miles to bring me back clean water. Forget going to school b/c such a task would take these kids all day. This is why 1 in 6 people do not have clean water. When I saw the glasses of water lined up with the 1 not clean my heart sank..then I looked over and saw the 1 of 6 baby bottles filled with dirty water and tears started to fill in my eyes. I never had to worry about not being able to give my kids food let alone clean water to drink. This is a daily struggle for people in Africa.
Then I moved on to the next room which had an 8x8 square on the ground with sand at the bottom. This was to show us the size of the houses people lived in. I was not prepared for the tears that came with this one. These people's houses are the size of my bed..MY BED! I just stood there thinking..how do they walk? where to they sleep,? how do 6 or more live in there? We have so much here and I find myself saying things on a daily basis that now make my stomach sick. We are so blessed..not only do we have our needs we even have our wants.
My next stop was a table filled with food that we in America typically eat in a given week..and you know that some of that even ends up in the trash. As I looked at the table and saw all the food we consume and then looked over to the little (and i mean little) bowl of rice these people get for one week. That deeply saddened me. We throw around the phrase, "I'm starving, or I'm famished." We do not even have a clue as to what that really means. Our stomachs begin to growl and we get up and get some food. They do not have that option. "It would only cost 195 billion dollars to end world hunger. 30 billion was spent on ice cream last year." Crazy and gives you a little more perspective. Of course it goes beyond one person giving up on that but the numbers don't lie and it has to start with us to help. 1 child dies every 5 SECONDS from starvation!! Just think of how many kids have died in just the time it has taken you to read to this point.
"11,000,000 die every year of preventable diseases. That = Haiti x 40" I saw a cot with all medical supplies to show me that although people think starvation is number one cause of death in Africa it not. It is in fact diarrhea. Something that here in the U.S. can be easily treated and you move on with your day. Something they are not able to do. Another thing we take for granted.
I would have to say that the next stop for me broke my heart more then words can express but I will try. This would be what goes in in Tailand..Our tour guide asked us (pretending we were parents) if she would promise we would never go hungry again, or that our kids would never have to work so hard would we be willing to give them over to them to help in their restaurants and such. They could work serving, cleaning floors, dishes ect..Of course they would say yes, after all parents only want the best for their kids..well then I walked through to what was really the truth behind that promise. Human trafficking!! They say they will be working at restaurants when in reality these young kids..not even teens, kids as young as 6 are being tricked and forced into sex trade industry. This broke my heart and disgusted me at the same time. I cannot even imagine the fear these little kids must feel. I looked over and saw this little cot with a little girls red shoes on the floor to give me an idea of the set up that goes on. I just kept thinking..its so not fair. My son is going to be 6 in June, thoughts of him having to go through this makes my stomach turn and my eyes fill with water. Or my little girl who would one day maybe follow...all too much for my mind and heart to comprehend. I can cry and feel for these people but I really have no idea what in fact they actually go through. Can you imagine the fear they must feel??
I then came into a room that looked like a typical bedroom here...had a bed, a desk with a computer set up ect. It was in this room that our tour guide gave me a fact I will never forget. Americans' addiction to pornography feeds the sex trade industry. I was appalled to find out the pornography industry was a 12 billion dollar a year industry. That is more money then the MLB, NHL,NFL bring in combined..salaries, ticket sales, everything that is made or paid out. Doesn't that just blow your mind?? Again with putting things in perspective. It is crazy. Our tour guide also pointed out that there are stores and companies here in the U.S. that support pornography and that when we purchase from them we support it. I am currently trying to gather a list of those stores and places and will post it when I have it done. I definitely do not want to shop anywhere that supports this in any way shape or form. I know this is an addiction but like any addiction I do not want to be someone feeding into it or helping others get to it.
After this we walked into a room with a big wooden cross laying on the floor with papers nailed into it..people who had previously taken the tour had left things they had burden for or issues with at the cross. I didn't want this journey to end b/c I was learning so much and my perspective on life has taken a different turn. After I wrote down on the paper what I wanted to leave with Jesus, because after all, He died for me and my sins, I prayed, nailed the paper to the cross and got up. As I looked forward (not back at that cross) I came to this spot where there were facts and pictures of everything we had previously seen or were taught about. We were given a few minutes to pray about all of it. I did not even have to move a lot, I had specific visuals of all I had just seen and the facts that were right in front of me. I knew that action needed to be taken and prayer was definitely the start to what I could do next.
Before entering our last area we saw a video of how Christian Missionary Alliance churches have been helping in providing support for the water wells in Africa. Not only was I able to see that I also saw visuals of other ways our church and other supporting churches have helped missionaries all over the world. The CMA also supports the ministry that teaches women to make scarves so that they can bring in some income to their home. They are also involved in the building of a trade school in Senegal to train the homeless boys and young men a trade. Through all this they teach them about Christ. Hope is given not only for their physical needs but for their spiritual needs as well. I was also able to see a model of one of the (many) homes our church has been involved in building in Ensenada, Mexico. Our church goes on at least one missions trip a year to this area of Mexico. My heart was tugged on with this. I came home that night and said to my husband..we need to pray but I really feel like Summer 2012 is our time to go on that weekly missions trip. This is definitely an action we can take in the direction of "doing something more."
Lastly, our tour ended in a room that had paper lined up on tables that we could write down anything we wanted, reflection, prayer, thoughts ect. I remember grabbing a red marker, looking down, writing "Please God, never let me forget the things I have heard and seen today. Keep my heart broken, show me ways that I can help and serve you more." You see all along my heart was sad and broken for the things these people did not have. One of the biggest things they do not have is hope. Now this is a NEED..they need to know their is hope that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus and giving them hope is showing them they will have eternity away from the pain they are facing here on earth.
Again, I do not think my writing can even give justice to this whole experience but hopefully for those who could not go it gave you a glimpse. Its not about what you wear, or the size house you have, the food you eat, the music you listen to, its about knowing Jesus Christ. I'm thankful that over 10 years ago I had an Aunt share with me that the heartache in life is not all there is.
With a heart forever changed,
Darea
