Unintended Consequences

November 23

I'm sure in the handbooks of cross cultural ministry there are warnings of doing things with unintended consequences; we must be taking the extended course of "trial and error!" Actually, I was listening to Lynda's pastor talk about Smart Compassion and he made me think about this. Then, I experienced exactly what he was talking about...

As the first pilot group was underway at a different shelter for runaway maids, it was decided that the ladies would each get the full profit from the sale of their craft items: they were crocheting lovely bags from recycled plastic grocery sacks. We really wanted to let them reap the benefits, especially since many of them ran away in the first place because of many months of unpaid salaries. As we were still discussing how much to sell them for, and what percentage to return to them directly vs going to their common needs; someone took it upon themselves to sell the bags for 5KD (about $18.) These particular ladies are living in a beautiful home that was generously made available for them and limited to a smaller number of women. So, when they got their first payments, they announced that they no longer wanted to return to their countries, but to stay right where they were and make bags!!! Not exactly the desired effect!

Lesson learned. In this situation, Communism is much better than Capitalism! We quickly bowed out of that arrangement and I took another course of action with my ladies. This weekend I sold the first batch of "Trash to Treasure" ornaments (there was much more demand than I could fulfil) and took in over $75.00 US. When I told them today, I thought they might want to spend it on something frivolous since they earned it as "extra." There was a unanimous desire for sanitary supplies and cough medicine! Such basic needs. What a joy it will be to take them a supply of these. All money will be spent as they desire and returned to them in products.

This was such a good lesson to learn. We must stop, look, and really listen to discern how to serve in a way that is beneficial and not destructive or offensive.

Today, Molly & I joined in on our first "distribution" of winter warmth bags to TCN's (third country nationals) working as custodians at a public hospital on the far side of Kuwait. It was explained to me that these workers live 25 to a room with minimal or no toilet facilities. The crumbling walls are stuffed with trash to keep the wind out. Their meager wages are sometimes siphoned off by greedy supervisors who promise them better work or threaten them into giving a percentage of their wage to them. Hospitals hire the middle man; the company who provides a service and manages these workers for profit. This distances the Kuwaitis from how the TCN's are actually treated.

We took over 300 bags and several volunteers where we were met by the maintenance supervisors at end of shift. Very clean and neat men and a few women, all in uniform, lined up to receive their package of insulated underwear, gloves, hat and socks. Molly captured many happy faces on camera as they took the bags from us. Some would barely meet our eyes, most said a very grateful "thank you." A quarrel broke out once between a supervisor who came through twice and was accused of taking 2 bags by another manager. A little prayer, and it diffused. As word got out that we were there, men from a construction site across the street began to join in the line. Then security guards, and random other Indian & Asian workers. Some shouted over the fence, waving the bags, so others could come before we ran out of supplies. At last we pulled away, but one lone man came out by the car asking in Arabic if he too, could have a bag. Sheryll has the biggest heart; she told the lorry driver to let him have one of the few that were left...out of nowhere, others materialized and were stretching their hands thru the bars of the truck to grab one, two bags in a frenzy of greed. Sheryll scolded one man and reminded him that "God is looking and sees your greed, you need to take only one!" Certainly, God sees all of our greed but some of us are able to disguise it better than others.

It was such a joy to serve with Molly. I am so thankful that she has the heart and desire to serve in this way, and very grateful that we have this opportunity to minister together here and now.