The Deep Forest, the Rock People, and... Kids are Kids are Kids
Yesterday we went to see the "rock people." The rock people are folks - mostly entire families - who make a living breaking rocks with hammers, next to a rock quarry in Rajahmundry.
I had said to Melody (my sis-in-law, who co-directs CRI) the day before, "I guess if there was one thing that's been a bit surprising to me, it's that there's not as much grinding poverty in India as I had expected."
She says, "Well Perry, you missed Calcutta."
Yes honey, that's right. But the rock people aren't a lot better off than the folks in Calcutta. Kids make 25 cents a day doing this fine job.
Per team leader Jason's instructions, we stopped at a bakery and bought some sweets for the kids and showed up in our rickety blue bus. Got out and started handing stuff out.
We were instantly mobbed with kids, who grabbed the candies and muffins out of our hands as fast as we could hand 'em out. We had extra for the adults and though they were pretty shy about accepting our gifts, none turned us down.
The rock people look just like anybody else here - the girls wear lovely saris (I have to say, Indian people are just beautiful, especially the girls in their brilliantly colored traditional dress.)
But you know what the kids wanted more than even candy and sweets? PHOTOS. And handshakes and human contact. I got mobbed, Jeremy got mobbed, Lindy got mobbed, Jason got mobbed... everyone with a camera got mobbed. Kids wanting to pose for a picture and then see it on the display after we took it.
The web connections are real slow here but eventually we're going to find a way to post them so you can see pics of these beautiful kids.
I was thinking.... you know, these kids don't look like "rock people." They don't look like "poor people". They just look like kids. And having been to six continents now, you know what?
Kids are kids are kids are kids.
No matter where you go. When Jesus said "Let the little children come to me" I think I know what he meant. He meant mor than just permit them to hang around. He meant, open up and embrace them. Be as open to them as they are to you.
I first met my wife Laura 21 years ago. She was singing in a choir and I was the sound man. I gave her a microphone and lured her into my world with reverb.
"I love the way you make my voice sound," she said.
I grinned from ear to ear. She fell in love with me and I with her. She's been my sweetheart, my Twilight Dawn, for 21 years and 18 years of marriage this July 22.
During the concert she had this solo. She sang - in her creamy alto voice that is hers and hers alone -
"Love was more than just a pretty word to say
When the savior gave his life upon the cross one day
And all the pretty songs could never take the place
Of a cup of water given in His name."
When you come to a place like this you wonder what you can do. What is going to make a real lasting difference for kids. For orphans. For rock people. For untouchables (yeah, that's a whole 'nother side trip from the day before yesterday, I promise to get back to that soon). For the people of India. And all the other places where CRI has projects.
As you'll discover as we go along, there are a lot of things in the realm of material assistance that are being provided for these kids. But there is another element that I think is more important, that's crucial to making a long-term difference for these people.
Hinduism teaches the concept of reincarnation and that depending on the Karma of a past life, some people are born into different castes - some are destined to have lives of privilege, some to be working class, and some to be "untouchable." So untouchable, in fact, that one need not even help the poorest of the poor because, after all, they are only getting what they deserve anyway.
Babies die of starvaton. Families live in filth. Children break rocks with hammers for 25 cents a day.
I know this will offend some people but I'm going to say it anyway: This belief is nothing more than a lie that has victimized untold millions of people. Hundreds of millions of people have nothing, have no ability to do business with other people, and are cut off from the rest of the world because of this false belief.
I would like to detour for a bit of a history lesson so that I can make an important point.
The United States Declaration of Independence makes a world-shattering declaration that transformed the modern world:
"We hold these things to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
In his book "Democracy in America" (1835) Alexis de Tocqueville traces this statement and its idea of equality backward through history and lands at Galatians 3:28, the words of St. Paul:
"In Christ there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. All are equal in Christ Jesus."
Before Paul said this, NO ONE had ever made such a bold and sweeping statement. No one. Not the Jews, not the Babylonians, not the Egyptians, not the Greeks, not the Chinese. The concept of equality came first from Paul.
This idea got planted in western civilization and began to grow and develop, little by little dismantling slave trade, sowing the seeds for democracy and spurring technological and political progress.
If you live in a democracy and you're thankful for the ability to vote, if you're thankful that people generally consider you and themselves to be just as good as anybody else, then thank Paul.
Because despite what the Declaration says, equality really is NOT self evident. At least it wasn't to any of the ancient world prior to 2000 years ago. On the surface, we're all different. Some are stronger. Some are smarter. Some have more money. Some are politically connected. Some are more savvy.
And some people get the scraps.
But when Paul said this, he was declaring that there is an underlying *spiritual* reality, that yours and my true identity doesn't come from accomplishments or money or power but from our Heavenly Father. That once we know that true identity we're no longer slaves to money and power and accomplishments and the 'natural' order of things.
So what are we gonna do for the rock people?
We're going to appoint a pastor to live there at the quarry and minister to them. To do what Jesus did - to "Let the children come to me." So that they too will know they're just as good as anybody else. They're not untouchable. They're children of a King.
That minister will be able to see where the needs are and help them find medical care, clothing (we saw a street vendor there at the quarry, selling shoes but he had no shoes on his feet), food, care and concern.
CRI can set up a minister like this for less than $100 per month. (More about CRI at www.childrensrelief.com.)
I've gotta get going now (other people are waiting to use the computer) but I'll send out another update soon.
God Bless.
Perry Marshall
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"Rock People" Micro-Loan Update: September 13, 2007
Witness:- My name is Mrs. Prasanna Kumari. I have 3 children. 2 boys and a girl. I am working in the Rock Quarry for the past 15 years. We are from a poor family. Always live in dirty environment. We never have full sleep because we stay in the Rock Quarry area where always bomb blasts happen to break the Rocks. We do not have own houses. We live in rented houses. Many families wont give us houses for rent. Only the Rock Quarry workers will give some space in their homes to stay for sometime. Because of that we have to change our house after some days. We always fall in diseases. When we go to doctor they will give us advise to eat Nutrition Food. But we have no money to buy nutrition food. What ever I earn from the Rock breaking is not sufficient for all of my family to have food all the month. Some times we don’t have even a single meal in a day. I always wait and see that if anyone comes to me and help us with some money. But no one came.
One day as usually I am breaking the Rocks in the Rock Quarry. 10 white people came to us. Every one in the Rock Quarry ran to see those white people. We talked that they are very beautiful and healthy and looking like Angels. We felt great by talking to them. Those White people asked us about our work in the Rock Quarry. And inquired about our children’s education, life style and earning, health etc. We told them all our personal stories. We are all very happy by looking at them and talking to them. By their questionnaire we thought that surely they will help us in any way.
After some days Pastor Isaiah and Ananth came to us and again enquired about our details. They told us about the microloans. They selected some of the poorest families for the microloans. They gave 80 – 100 Dollars to each family. They told us that the Americans (Children’s Relief International) sent that money with love. And also said that Americans aim is that to improve your financial, economical and also social conditions, and to live a good life. Then only their aim will be fulfilled. After hearing this we thought that God has sent them to us to help us.
My family is very happy after taking the loan. And we are using the money in purchasing more rock. We never had food every day. But now we are having food all the month. All of my family used to fight each other because of our financial situation and lack of food. But now slowly we are making money and also getting food. Normally nobody will visit our places, because its all dirty and also the untouchable locality. Once again we are very grateful and thankful to the Americans who gave the micro loans.
To help more people like Prasanna through CRI's Micro Loan Program, click here.