Giving Thanks Is All About Perspective

On this Thanksgiving Day, knowing that I will be sitting down with my family soon to have an amazing dinner and probably leftovers the next day, I am reminded of a missions trip a few summers ago to Malawi, Africa.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the World Bank 2009 data, of the 15 million people living in Malawi, 50.7% live in poverty and the life expectancy is 52.2 years of age.

We took lots of pictures while we were there. This picture below show the results of their harvest of corn still on the cob and in the husk, which was all picked from the field by hand. Remember this was only a couple of summers ago.

     In America we have an abundance of corn harvested by a small number of men. Using huge machines, that pick the corn off the stalk, shell it from the cob, and pour the kernels into these huge wagons, this is ALL accomplished without one human hand touching the corn on the cob from the stalk to the wagon.

They pump their water by hand from a well into a large bucket that is then transported on top of the head of usually a woman or a child to their home. Sometimes they will walk over a mile or two, just to get fresh water, every day.

And in America we have not one faucet, but usually multiple faucets, in our homes. with both hot and cold water at our finger tips and within a short number of steps.Our water is purified for us. We don't have to boil it before we drink it. We have no worries about bacteria that will cause disease or may cost us our life.

We went to Malawi to share the Gospel with as many who would listen. There is no possible way we could help change their environment with one week in Malawi. According to Jesus' own words in the Gospel of John, He said this: “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again." (John 6:35)

I am thankful we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with so many in Malawi who were hungering to hear the "truth" about Jesus Christ. I am also thankful for the reminder this Thanksgiving Day, that every time I get a drink of fresh water, it should remind me that we truly live in a rich country. We are a rich people, who need to understand perspective. We live in a land of plenty. How are we blessing others with the blessings we have been given? I pray that we don't take our blessings for granted and that we can teach our children and grand-children to be thankful for the opportunity to live in this great country and to share those blessings with those in need. Happy Thanksgiving everyone:)



Terry Langenberg
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