The mirror image of the "Things that bring me joy" post. A few things that make each day that much more difficult to get through. Slum demolitions Shadia being a long ways away People who tell me that I shouldn't live where I do because there are "bad people" there The ultra-prevalence of tiny …
(I shared this somewhere else when it happened, but recent events have me thinking about it again.) Sultan’s ears perked up to hear the mosque's announcement. I usually ignore them because, in a slum of close to 10,000 people, the messages rarely concern my own circle. But I stopped and listened because Sultan wasn’t going …
Tough-looking teenage boys who reduce themselves to goofy noises to try to make Sakeenah smile and then melt to pieces when she does Seeing a new bird fluttering through the slum that I've never seen before Shadia making phone calls home to her 'mata ji' and 'papa' Every moment that one of my learners puts …
In desiring to include more success stories about charities doing the right thing, I solicited a guest post from Jeph Mathias. Jeph works with a variety of NGOs across Asia (and beyond), specializing in the idea of complexity in development. This story was originally posted at Jeph's blog, unpredictable. It's Jeph from here: A small project …
I was getting kids for the literacy program when I saw a crowd gathering in one of the poorer neighborhoods of our community. An older woman was flailing about; three other ladies attempted to restrain her. I told my kids to hurry along without me and approached to see if it was a medical emergency. …
When did it hit? It wasn't when we landed in the airport. It wasn't when we got through immigration. It wasn't when we fought through the crowds to get out of the metro station. It wasn't when a line of 100+ motorcycles trying to bypass a traffic jam stalled behind me on the overpass sidewalk …
8am Peregrine accompanies our friend Shazia and her three-year-old to the hospital. Two months ago he fell off a roof, since then he has miraculously recovered from life-threatening brain trauma. God willing, nothing more from the doctors is necessary. But it has been impossible for Shazia to get answers. She is ignored like a nobody, asked for …
Gulab, the 18-year-old daughter of our landlord, told us about a horrific motorcycle accident she had witnessed. After the crash the man was bleeding severely from his head and had gone into seizures "moving like a fish." Then the movement stopped. She was on her way to school but was so traumatized by the accident …
The tension was heavy. Fatima and Ali explained their financial situation. Their landlord had raised the already-inflated rent another 25% in an effort to get them to leave. They used everything they had to pay her, and now could not afford food. Their oldest daughter had to be pulled out of school to rush the …
Continue reading Inviting those who can’t pay you back, Part II
Some friends and I used to meet for a Bible study in inner-city Los Angeles. One week in particular was life-altering. I don't remember what passage we studied that week, but the discussion moved to Luke 14:12-14: "He then turned to his host. 'When you give a lunch or a supper,' he said, 'don't invite …
Continue reading Inviting those who can’t pay you back, Part I
Stranger in a Slum 