We have been in Nairobi now for three almost weeks and it was always missing something that made me think that maybe Africa had changed. I mean there are malls and regular supermarkets. You can walk pretty much anywhere and not see the extreme poverty that Africa has had on display in our previous times here. There are brand new Mercedes driving around very nice apartment building line many streets.
Not that I believed Africa had this major overhaul in the past 8 years, but it is different, until today.
We were walking back from the office this afternoon and came upon a man laying in the ditch in obvious convulsions. Laying in a drainage ditch, foaming at the mouth and convulsing. Another man and myself managed to get him turned on his side so he wouldn't choke and put something under his head so he wouldn't smash his head against the concrete curb.
As the man began to come around he said he needed some water, which he had in a bag he was carrying. He then explained he was a diabetic and need something with sugar. We got him some juice and some biscuits. He then explained that he was not only diabetic but also had epilepsy He had been to the doctor that morning but could not afford the medication. This man also had a large oozing infection puncture wound on his neck from when he fell last week.
This brings me to the question; what should be our response to this situation? At first glance this seems to be a real life Parable of the Good Samaritan. This man was not pulling some scam to try and get money, he was truly in dire need of help. Can all the arguments presented in the parable be applied here, maybe even more? Can we all come up with a valid reason to ignore the situation? By the way calling 911 is not an option.
Anyone who has lived in a developing country has faced the same question. The needs are so great that one could completely give away all that you own in very short time.
I do not have an answer to this situation, I responded as I felt the Lord would have had me done, but then again I could be just making excuses myself.
As the man began to come around he said he needed some water, which he had in a bag he was carrying. He then explained he was a diabetic and need something with sugar. We got him some juice and some biscuits. He then explained that he was not only diabetic but also had epilepsy He had been to the doctor that morning but could not afford the medication. This man also had a large oozing infection puncture wound on his neck from when he fell last week.
This brings me to the question; what should be our response to this situation? At first glance this seems to be a real life Parable of the Good Samaritan. This man was not pulling some scam to try and get money, he was truly in dire need of help. Can all the arguments presented in the parable be applied here, maybe even more? Can we all come up with a valid reason to ignore the situation? By the way calling 911 is not an option.
Anyone who has lived in a developing country has faced the same question. The needs are so great that one could completely give away all that you own in very short time.
I do not have an answer to this situation, I responded as I felt the Lord would have had me done, but then again I could be just making excuses myself.
