World Understanding Month

According to the Rotary calendar, February is "World Understanding Month". Last Tuesday night at Rotary we heard from an inspirational guest speaker, 15 year old Scotch College student, Hugh McKenzie, who shared about his personal experiences of assisting in a joint World Vision/Scotch College project of upgrading the Kapumfi School in Kopa, Zambia.
These were his reflections:
"Running along next to our bus, massive smiles on their faces enjoying every moment of their time with the ambassadors from Australia who built their school. ‘Shani’, ‘Whino’. The short words spoken between us and the Kapumfi children meaning ‘how are you?’, ‘I am good’. The children don’t speak English and these are the only words we knew, and found those words very precious, being the link and key to communication between us and the children of Kapumfi. Being a part of this trip made me feel very privileged ~ not only compared to these poor people but it has been such an eye opener and changed my view on the world.
Round and round our world turns with people every day of our lives ignoring what is happening on the other side of the world to them. Seeing those kids' smiling faces it is hard for me to forget what some people are going through. They may be thousands of kilometres away but everyday I am reminded of so many memories from the trip that has changed my life. Stopping the bus we hop out and follow our guide towards what seems to be maybe two or three huts and a couple of cows. ‘Everyone I’d like you to meet Michael’. In front of me is standing a boy around the age of 13, his dirt covered face with sad eyes and visibly shy stands there. ‘Hi Michael!’; he doesn’t understand what we have said, just like many people in Australia do not understand what is happening on this side of the world. His face immediately lowers and his eyes are forced to the ground; shyness wins out. Does it matter if you are shy in this cruel world that poor Michael lives in? Such a question makes you realise how we can live with this happening to the lives of others. As well as living in the extremes of poverty Michael’s parents died when he was six. Now he is looked after by his aunt. Imagine living in these circumstances ~ such poverty ~ and not have your parents support you and guide you. This I cannot relate to nor understand; how this kid gets by everyday. Meeting this young boy has been touching and will stay with me for the rest of my life. I admire this boy immensely and I have learned from this experience. When I think that I have it tough, I think of Michael; what is he doing at the moment? Being starved? Working so he and his aunt can have some food for the evening?
This also inspires me to try and make difference in people’s lives who are disadvantaged...to make Poverty History!

Hugh's story inspired me to do my utmost to "serve suffering humanity" right where God has placed me. Sharing God's resources always makes a difference!