The Cost of an Orange

This week (3) 40’ containers of Kids Against Hunger food finally made it to Matsapha, Swaziland. This represents over 840,000 high protein meals packed over many months by volunteers. The value of the food that went across the Atlantic was over $210,000. The shipping was another $30,000+. Sounds like a lot of food and a lot of money. But is it?

Let’s answer the first part of the question. The mission groups on the ground are feeding 2700 children each day at over 30 care points where orphans and children at risk gather for help. Adventure in Missions (AIM) and Children’s Hope Chest (CHC) do not have enough food for all of the care points they serve. They are turning children away that come for help. 800,000 meals is not very much after all, is it? It will be gone within months and less if they feed more children which they want to do.

Now let’s answer the second part of the question. 67% of the people of Swaziland live on about 45¢ a day – that 45¢ must pay for everything from food, to shelter, to clothes, to healthcare , etc. A few years ago, studies showed that nearly 40% of the population had HIV/AIDs. Because of HIV/AIDs, it is expected that the orphan population will exceed 10% of the total population. Many households are run by teenagers and pre-teens caring for younger siblings.

Orphans have no way to earn money. When parents die, children may be taken by relatives, neighbors and others who may have less than honorable motives. Girls are prized for many reasons. The boys may end up on the street or in a orphanage if one can be found. Young girls will trade their bodies for food. In one story which made their local news, a seven year old girl who was starving gave her body to an older man for one orange and one loaf of bread. Sexual oppression of children is horrific and sadly it happens all the time. Christ is the answer and the Church is the messenger - but does the Church know that?

In my thinking, $240,000 for containers of food is a bargain. It will save some from starvation and it may save some young girls, created in the image of God, from trading themselves for an orange and a loaf of bread just so that they can stay alive.

Many of us believe that we are not actively involved in “oppressing” the poor or the orphan. After all, we care for them, don’t we? Do we? Do I? I really struggle with this. In reality, if I am not part of the solution, than I am part of the problem. If you are not part of the solution, than you my friend are part of the problem as well.

Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him (Proverbs 14:31)

Begin today to be a part of the solution. Give sacrificially to the work of those in Swaziland (AIM and CHC). Give sacrificially to the work of Kids Against Hunger here so we can send more food quickly. But don't stop there. Take it to the next level.

Bring an orange or a loaf of bread to your elders, your deacons, your missions pastor or your benevolence committee. Tell them that a seven year old girl traded her young body for sex because she was hungry and this is what she got in return. A small amount of food and most likely HIV/AIDs.

Then ask if there are any church funds that have not been spent yet. Any funds at all. Worship funds, mission funds, building funds, vision goals funds, doesn’t matter. Ask them to spend it on saving lives now and not later. Ask them for their commitment to do more this year and in the church budget next year. And then pray with them that the Lord would multiply those funds.