Meditations

Economic Poverty – Lack of resources

“The daily income generated by scavenging in the dump is on average less than $2.00, just enough for one meal, and a far cry from what is needed for access to basic human services.  At this rate, progress and growth are impossible and the scavengers never make it out of the “just living to make it through each day” reality.  Even if they did make enough to save a little, access to economical resources is basically a closed door for the scavengers because of lack of records and references.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/economic-poverty/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 20-21 of this Potter’s House document.

Poverty of Civic Involvement – Lack of concern for their neighbor or community

“Even within a family network, a human being needs more than social support to survive in the hard living conditions of the dump. In order for the much needed economical and social improvements to take place, society partnership is needed. When survival is the main concern of all involved, a work union or team of some sort could significantly help preserve basic human and labor rights, but this advantage is never realized for most scavengers.
Exploitation of the weak is rampant; children, women and teenagers are frequently used for others´ purposes.  The lack of a solid infrastructure is cause for many of the health and social problems in and around the dump, including a lack of electricity, running water, drainage, adequate roads and many others.  Cooperation in a communal effort would do much to improve these problems, but the idea of working as a community is altogether foreign to these people.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/poverty-of-civic-involvement/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 18-19 of this Potter’s House document.

Poverty of Support Network – Lack of Family or Support Group

“Every human being needs a small, intimate group of people for support.  The biological family is the natural network of support, but in an environment where a strong sense of family does not exist, we often hear: “I have no one to help me; I am alone in this world”.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/poverty-of-support-network/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 16-17 of this Potter’s House document.

Physical Poverty – Lack of health

“Working in constant pollution and among infectious and sharp objects, the scavengers are in a clear state of permanent sickness.  Health is a very urgent concern.  The malnutrition, toxic waste, pathogens, filth and other high-risk aspects of scavenging cause severe respiratory and dermatological illnesses, along with a myriad of other health complications. The scavengers have almost no access to medical care services.  The public health system in Guatemala is completely inefficient.  Medical consults, lab exams and medications are totally out of the question for the scavengers.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/physical-poverty/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 14-15 of this Potter’s House document.

Poverty of the Will – Lack of self-control

“A world of chaos, without rules or standards, creates children of like characteristics.  Most of the people that live in the dump are born and pass through a wild, unstructured life onto death without ever knowing structure or rhythm and the peace these can bring. Alcoholism and drug addiction do incalculably much to worsen the already desperate situation. The Treasures need to be given the opportunity to make decisions that can change their lives and then to be guided in such a way that these changes can be realized.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/poverty/poverty-of-the-will/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 12-13 of this Potter’s House document.

Poverty of Affection – Lack of love and distorted feelings due to negative experiences

“Treasures grow up in this gray environment of living to survive, where the rule is “fight or die”, where parents abuse their own children in every sense, and where there is almost no regard for one’s neighbor, makes for hard and deeply wounded people. Distrust is a necessary tool for survival.  Love and any sense of self- value or value of others is almost absent.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/poverty/poverty-of-affection/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 10-11 of this Potter’s House document.

Intellectual Poverty – Lack of access to knowledge or distorted knowledge

“Formal education is a luxury in the dump. Because each day presents the challenge of mere survival, the scavengers don’t have the opportunity to care about much else. Consequently, the majority has neither dreams nor plans of any kind outside of finding the meal of the day. The sad result of this lifestyle is the steady formation of three deeply embedded and widespread lies: “I can’t do it”, “I am trash”, and “I don’t know anything”.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/intellectual-poverty/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 8-9 of this Potter’s House document.

Spiritual Poverty – Lack of a relationship with God

“The daily urgent bodily needs make it nearly impossible for these tired people to take care of their souls and sprits. Therefore, they are left with a constant sense of lack of meaning in their lives, with little or no interest in moral or ethical issues. Many live with a real desire to die as a means of escape from their hard life of suffering. The majority of scavengers are not aware that, as human beings, they have the hope of eternal life after this earthly, troubled one. Also, they are not aware of the fact that there’s a living God who is the source of all life and who knows them each intimately.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/poverty/spiritual-poverty/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 6-7 of this Potter’s House document.

“There is a general lack of understanding of the Biblical approach to wealth, poverty, dependency, stewardship, generosity, and giving. These issues, together with a lack of teaching and preaching especially on giving as part of whole-life discipleship, were mentioned in all regions [of the globe] as barriers to giving.

Respondents to the questionnaire from richer countries mentioned wealth, materialism, and greed as barriers to giving in their countries while respondents from poorer countries mentioned poverty and dependency as barriers to giving.

There are limited, if any, resources on giving in most languages. Quite often Christian leaders do not know about resources such as teaching materials, ministries, and literature that encourage giving even if the resources are available.”

Sas Conradie on Global Trends in “Christian Generosity Trends and the Future of Christian Giving” in Lausanne Global Analysis 2:2.14.

“Just as Jesus was full of grace, so also we are called to be gracious to one another, generous with our compassion and understanding, forgiving, blessing others with our words and behavior.”

Mark McMinn and Clark Campbell in Integrative Psychotherapy: Toward a Comprehensive Christian Approach (Downer’s Grove: IVP, 2007) 353.