The Prophet Micah (6:8) says “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (NIV). Thom Wolf calls this pulling weeds, doing deeds, and planting seeds. Pulling weeds relates to reversing or correcting unjust practices in our circle of influence; doing deeds relates to loving and doing mercy; and planting seeds relates to walking humbly before the Lord and providing a visible testimony of the hope that is in us. Pulling weeds bring hope; doing deeds is loving our neighbor; and walking humbly before God introduces seekers to the faith. It is Paul’s faith, hope, and love trilogy found in 1st Corinthians.
Last week Jeff Jones, Sr. Director of Volunteer Management and Missions Support and Susan Williams, Director of Missions Support, both Buckner staff, travelled 7,000 miles with me to Bangladesh to learn about the work of HARD, an NGO working to provide tangible hope for the lives of many people in that country. They provide educational support, economic development, and health care services for the poorest of the poor.
The work we saw was amazing! This NGO is eradicating poverty, one family at a time. I wish I could communicate the expression of joy on the faces of mother’s as they told about the ability to provide for their families due to a micro-loan provided to them by HARD. I wish I could explain the sound of pride in their voices as they told about the education their children were receiving. And before I forget to mention it, I wish I could communicate the confidence in elders who put glasses on for the first time in their lives after a quick eye exam and were able to read. Amazing!
About 80% of the population of Bangladesh lives on less than $2 per day. About 10% of the worlds Muslims live in this country. It is a wonderful place to be to serve the poor.
Buckner is being invited to provide humanitarian support and volunteers to support HARD. We are hopeful that volunteers will either choose to send or take shoes for the children and other villagers. We are trying to pull weeds, do deeds, and plant seeds.
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