Human Care
"Is it not to share your food with the hungry, and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your flesh and blood?" Isaiah 58:7
Human care is the essential first step to building relationships with the individual and their community.
The activities of our social ministry are the means to this end. Over the years, we have seen that people won’t listen to what you have to say about God until they see your faith in action. In essence, they are saying…”we don’t care what you say until we see how much you care.” And with the impoverished, this is even more true.
Discrimination, injustice, oppression, abuse… all of these typical life circumstances lead to a lack of trust. So, why would we be believed until Jesus’ love becomes a reality from us to them?
And so our outreach process begins… with human care.
Our fundamental motivation for ministry is to develop relationships.
Poverty breeds isolation and distrust. In serving the urban poor, it is even more critical to do as Jesus did… and go to them.
Shame, embarrassment, humiliation and pride will often keep the people from using the services we provide.
So we follow the perfect example set by our Lord and we take the services to them until a relationship begins. Then they begin to trust enough to come literally up the hill to where our programs are functioning daily in each of our buildings.
Long ago, the young people in the ministry said, “If people are hungry, they can’t listen. And if they can’t listen, they won’t hear what you say.” So we feed them, providing nourishment for the body and the soul.
Every day our ministry cooks prepare a basic meal such as beans and rice, spaghetti, buttered noodles and veggies, and a fruit drink for approximately 250 people.
Our soup kitchen team, el equipo de La Provision carries the 15 gallon pots of food and drink into the squatters area with the help of our little red pick-up truck, affectionately named Rodrigo. The guajeros (the dump workers) know that with the arrival of Rodrigo, they will eat. Perhaps for many, it will be the only meal for the entire day. And so they come running with smiles as the little red truck appears.
Click the play button below to watch a video about La Provision.
Our mission teams are privileged to witness this, and it is usually the most profound yet bittersweet experience of their trip. Bitter, as they see the despair and emptiness in the eyes of the workers. Sweet…as La Provision brings literally a truckful of hope in the form of food for the body…and human contact, touches, smiles and hugs for the spirit.
For many of the dump workers, those smiles bringing the food are the first true signs in their lives that Jeremiah 29:11 is real for them as well. They can see that message in our eyes.
Daily house (shanty) visits by the dump and in Amatitlan are another critical way to begin developing those important relationships.
Strangers - coming to see me!!! It is our most powerful way of touching souls and introducing the servant’s heart to the families. In the U.S., this would be an intrusion, but because of the isolation and lack of positive human contact among the poor, these visits are critical to the people’s survival, both physically and spiritually.
Prayers and scripture are shared according to the needs we encounter.
You can imagine that physical illness is rampant. And so our outreach team and medical staff carry a treatment bag with first aid, hygiene and other “over-the-counter” medicines to provide basic medical care for the sick.
Healing was just one of the ways Jesus touched people. Remember the mud smeared on the eys of the blind man and the woman healed by touching his robe? In the U.S., this can include using a stethoscope to listen to a heartbeat…or cleaning an open wound with a gentle touch.
For those who are considered the untouchables of Guatemala, this sends a profound message. You are precious to us. And more importantly…to God.
In 2006, we began a mobile clinic and teaching center with our mission teams. Again going to the people. Developing relationships and trust are what is our motivation for all new programs we create.
Human care is just one of the ways we fulfill the great commission. It is the beginning of the relationship and the continual spiritual development that enables the person to learn about their heavenly father and come to faith in Jesus.