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Paradox

My life right now is a paradox.  Physically, I'm here.  Sitting in my comfortable chair. Writing on my laptop.  Gazing out my window at a beautiful sunny Seattle day.  My heart, though, is half a world away.  It is torn for the people of Burma.  The Rohingya.  The Kachin.  The Karen.  IDPs.  Migrants. Victims of trafficking.  My hands feel tied as I live my life here in the States.  I'm so eager to GO.

What is it I can do now?  How can I be the hands and feet of Jesus from here?

I can pray.
I can't believe how often I forget the most obvious.  Prayer.  God uses prayer to turn our hearts toward Him and to bring more people toward His Kingdom.  Luke 10:2 says:
He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. [NIV]
We can pray for the people there.  Their plights.  Their struggles.  Their need for salvation.  And we can pray for the workers who are in the harvest field - both that there would be more of them and for their perseverance in the harvest.

I can give.
There are already workers out there.  There are fantastic organizations that are working hard to end the injustice in Burma and to create better lives for those that have fled their homes.  Others work hard to create sustainable communities that bring families back together after social deterioration.  Many of these organizations need funds to keep doing the work that God has called them to do.

I can take action here.
World Concern does an annual Free Them 5K.  This fun run/walk is intended to raise awareness of human trafficking around the world and to benefit World Concern's work to end this horrible practice.  I get to participate in this year's event which will be Saturday, May 10th.  If you feel led to give, my fundraising page can be found here.

I can prepare.
I'm trying to familiarize myself with what is going on in SE Asia and developments in education and poverty alleviation.  I read news articles and blog posts here, here, here, and here.  I'm reading books like When Helping Hurts, Fast Living, One World Schoolhouse, and Creating a World without Poverty.  I'm watching movies like The Lady and YouTube videos like this one and this one.

And again, I can pray.  
Thank God that He cares about the poor and loves all people everywhere, and that we can go to Him with our burdens.
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