What about them?

I just had a really nice visit with a good friend. While we were catching up over tacos, she was telling me about her younger brother's recent car accident. He smashed his hand up pretty bad and was in the hospital for a few days. When released his hand became infected and they thought he would lose it. After a week of treatments to rid it of infection and frequent doses of painkiller to make it tolerable he finally was able to have surgery and now is healing fine. His doctor remarked to my friend that she would rather die trying to get back to the States than to have to stay in a hospital in another country.
I rejoice with my friend that her brother was able to get good medical care immediately after his accident, and that his doctor was competent and that they were able to pay for his surgery. Then Edwin came to my mind. The little boy that I met in Potosi this spring--the boy with the poorly healed fracture and infected leg. You can scroll down to see another picture of Edwin with me and his mom (June 7 entry.). Story after story of people up in the mountains who needed medical care for things that began as minor medical problems which quickly worsen due to lack of medical attention. Little Edwin might very well be crippled for the rest of his life because he didn't receive the care he needed when he had his accident. If my friends brother would've been there, his accident very well could've been a death sentence. No pain reliever, no antibiotics or sanitary environment to protect from infection, no medical professionals or specialists... It just seems so...well, unfair.
So this is what some kids are doing to help: The children's church at First Baptist in Medina is going to raise money for a scholarship fund for kids like Edwin who can't afford the medical care they need. The hope is that with a scholarship fund, kids will be able to get to the city to get treated promptly and save money, time and pain in the long run.
Maybe we weren't born in the USA just to have the best medical care available to us. Maybe the American dream isn't what we always thought it was...maybe we're blessed with disproportionate wealth (compared to the rest of the world) to help others. Maybe all this is so that God's name will be glorified through our desire to share what we have. I remember one time in high school when my pastor said, "to whom much is given, much is expected". I'm not wanting to be preachy, but feeling convicted of this myself. (Sidenote: I highly recommend The Hole in Our Gospel by Rich Stearns. Trust me, it will revolutionize your relationship with God and perception of the world. ) Maybe it's time for all of us to do something about it. I'm not saying this just to get you to support my cause. Pray about where God would have you to help, and then do it. There are MANY needs all over the world- This one lays heavy on my heart tonight.

'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine,
even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matt. 25:40