Food for Thought

Two conversations happened yesterday that really made me think.  The first was a phone call the my brother-in-law received from his English conversation instructor Hermel.  I believe I mentioned him in an earlier post.  Hermel called to tell Travis that neither he nor his wife has been able to find work over the past month and things are tight.  Travis said after getting off the phone that he is going to have to purchase an emergency food hamper for the family to make it until the end of the month.  Things must be bad.

The second conversation happened last night at a Bible study that he invited me to take part in.  Travis meets once a week with a man he met at English conversation named Ivan.  This man has a wife and three children (the oldest a 22 years old culinary student stayed and conversed with us for a time).  Travis and Ivan spoke about economics, politics, and family while I tried to piece together what they were saying.  Travis translated so that I would feel included and I got to ask a few questions.  Ivan told us of his wife's sister and family who live in a small two-room structure in the back yard.  It has no kitchen so the five of them cook outside over a fire.  The husband works on the coast and is away three weeks at a time and home for one.  He makes $290 a month.  The wife doesn't work.  With three children to provide for, the oldest in his mid-teens and the youngest around five, this family barely scrapes by month to month.  It has caused some conflict between Ivan and his brother-in-law as some months this struggling family can't make rent.

We never looked at a single Bible passage last night.  It was simply a needed conversation over some crackers and coke.  Travis tells me that the majority of the people in the church that he works with relate well to the two stories I just shared.  It really makes me think...and think...and pray.  I think Hermel will be giving me Spanish lessons for $5 an hour and I pray that all three families described above will come to know the hope and provision that only Our Heavenly Father can provide!