Moved with compassion

At one of our recent Bible studies, Luis Eduardo started talking about what he had seen outside of a local hospital.  This is where, of course, many families bring thier sick for treatment.  The problem is, many of these families are very poor.  They come from out of town, and have no family here to stay with.  They can’t afford a hotel.  So, they sleep outside the hospital on the ground.

Not only can they not afford a place to stay, they can’t afford warm clothes.  Luis Eduardo said many of them were in shirt sleeves – men, women and children.  With the temperatures getting down below 10C (50F), it’s cold enough to make more of the family sick!

Imagine the trauma of having someone in your family seriously ill – then added to that you have to sleep outside with no shelter, no warm clothes and little food.  My friends wanted to do something about it.

You know, organized, planned giving is a great thing.  Everyone should think through how they give, and make the most of what they can give.  Jesus encouraged planning and counting the cost (Luk 14:25-32).  But if we’re going to be like Jesus, we also have to let ourselves be "moved with compassion" (Mat 14:14).  That means spontaneous, joyful giving – not relying entirely on calculating logic.

So I get pretty excited when I hear people simply seeing a need and getting excited about helping out!

Please pray for those who are giving up blankets, sweaters, coats and food for these people, and pray for those who have gone and will go again to the hospital to talk to these people and help where they can.

Speaking of spontaneous giving, many have been giving to help those who have been left with nothing after the disaster in the State of Tabasco.  Many gave sacrificially right away.  It’s now being made an official "project" of CAM International, so Lord willing others will be moved with compassion.  Rod Fry just came back from Tabasco – to hear his account and see pictures, see his recent post.