Spring!

Today is the first official day of spring. Here that means it is also Student Day, Friendship Day, and Day of Love (like our Valentine's Day). September 21 is actually a pretty big deal here. On my ride through town and walk through the Cancha today, there were stands on every corner selling stuffed animals and flowers and lots of heart-shaped things in various shades of red and pink all with cheesy phrases on them. There were also a lot of parades in the street of children dressed up in all kinds of costumes, which slowed down the ride to the Cancha a bit. Ann's school has field day today to celebrate the students too. It really is a nice time of year. I think September pretty much anywhere in the world is a great time of year. Yesterday we went to the spring plant fair downtown and boughts some seeds to start a garden. Hopefully we'll be growing our own salad here soon. In the village where I'm starting my work, we are just about to plant potatoes, the first crop that goes in the ground. There is something about spring and new beginnings.
However, for some reason signs of human hurt and suffering were also surrounding me today-- the small sign on the lamp post outside the hospital advertising a kidney for sale, the small woman sitting next to me clutching an AA newspaper ad she had cut out, the kid on the sidewalk alone and crying, and the ever-present women sitting on sidewalks, their children dressed up in traditional dress, filthy, and dancing and singing for some spare change, often literally clinging to gringos like me that walk by. Today not just the signs of joy and happy lovers stood out to me, but the suffering that all humans experience, some more than others. And I think of the blessed life I have had, and how the Bible clearly says that if I have and my neighbor does not I must give to them, or else how can God's love be in me? I've always felt more inclined to give a little to the shoeshine boys because they are working, but the ladies sitting on the sidewalk and using their cute, pitiful kids to tug on your heartstrings I have always just walked past. But lately it has killed me every time I walk by. What can I do? Sometimes I think to myself that we give enough in our church, but I realize that we are still the "haves" and those women are the "have-nots." I think, how can I possibly give to all of them? But then I think to myself, why not? I do not know their story and who am I to judge them for using their children like that? Maybe next time I'll stop and talk to one and try to help my ignorance, but for the time being I have no idea what to do.