"WHAT CAN WE DO NOW AS A FAMILY?"

What can we do as a family to keep the momentum of this trip alive in our hearts? We're happy and thankful to be back in our home, yet how do we respond knowing that there are so many poor in the world. How do we react?

I don't think that there's anything healthier than having a family dedicated to becoming world Christians and within that scope, willing to design a curriculum for compassion dealing with poverty and injustice in all of their ugly forms.

Of course many of us simply don't have time with shuttling the kids around to their sports and social activities. . . nothing could be more important and rewarding than instilling compassion and thankfulness in your kids lives. Competition, that gets thumbs up every time but compassion, thankfulness, unselfishness? Somehow we just wait for them to come along. . . and they seldom do.

DESIGN A CURRICULUM FOR COMPASSION!

IDEAS: Below I have listed some things that might help you become a compassionate and unselfish family.

FAMILY TRIPS: continue family trips into poverty each month, or every other month with groups like ours, where you can interact with the poor.

Create short family trips to visit and help the elderly in nursing homes or homes for the mentally challenged in your area. The idea here is to be consistent, and regular in working together as a family.

TABLE TALK: Media photos and articles about world poverty come to our attention almost daily. Heighten your awareness of these and bring up a poverty issue once or twice a week from some world scenario, discussing it over the table.

INTERNET: On the internet you might download a picture of poverty or have your children locate a photo in a magazine or newspaper. These pictures can be displayed on a family bulletin board and changed each month. A picture a month.

MEALTIME: You might have a meal where you serve very small portions of rice or beans once a month at a surprise time. Even in your "small meal" you probably have more than the average child in Africa or Haiti To add to the surprise impact turn off all electrical items Using a candle for light. No table cloth of course. Use only a spoon. Have a photo of your favorite poor child on the table. Having a surprise meal will heighten the disappointment because we come to the table expecting a good meal.

FUN QUESTIONS: You might have your children guess what items you would find in a poor boy's pockets. Would a poor girl wear any socks or shoes? Questions like this get children thinking.

The idea of course is to have a regular and consistent focus on the poor, lonely and hurting people of the world and, yes, doing something about it.

ADOPTION: (Not actual adoption.) How about your family "adopting" a poor child from overseas. Good Christian agencies like WORLD VISION and FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY have exciting programs where you can "adopt" a child and support him overseas for a small monthly fee. They'll send you pictures and stats on your child.

PRAYER: Missionaries who work with the poor need your prayers! Find your hero and pray for him or her regularly.

PAPER MAIL: Send letters and support to your missionary working with the poor. Christmas and holidays are important days in his world too. Make it a family thing. You can make your letters more personal and increase the impact by enclosing photos of your family and letters from your children in their own handwriting. (I know I always answer a letter from a child.)

ACTION INTERNATIONAL: I've known Doug Nichols for years. He is director of Action International Mission. This is a large and growing organization working with the poor street kids all over the world. A great organization with a good reputation. They have good literature and can suggest other ways in which you can get involved in serving the poor. Pay a visit to the ACTION INTERNATIONAL MISSION site to learn more.

MORE IDEAS? If you are looking for even more ideas you might glance over our "WHAT CAN I DO AS A KID" page.

To keep up the momentum and the fun time you had with us in Mexico return to our website often and re-visit the people and places you once knew. Pull up the picture of a child or staff member and pray for them. Like we say "Don't forget us."

Hopefully this page has answered your question of "WHAT CAN WE DO?"