As
iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
Over the past 4 years, the standard of
living in Marare grew by leaps and bounds.
Each team has seen new successes, and each annual update has shown
important advances. An independent, well-rounded community is emerging, and I
am overjoyed that Northgate is lending a hand.
As Marare becomes more self-sufficient, we
wonder when it’s time to start cutting back and letting them stand on their
own. Marare has proven that they are capable of building a church, managing
their money, and teaching their children.
So where does that leave us? Has our
mission shifted from what it started at 4 years ago?
The answer lies in our initially envisioned
relationship to Marare and what both Northgate and FH set up.
Actually it lies in that word
‘relationship’
We are not in a contract with Marare—our support
is not traded for their self-sufficiency. This is also not an aid mission, where we are helping to get a community back
on its feet after a disaster.
We
are in a relationship with a community just like us.
Marare was a struggling community before
Northgate and FH entered the picture, but so was Northgate. Marare has showed
us how to be united, driven by our faith in God and prayer. Marare has given us
a passion for generosity, and a desire to strengthen and build each other up.
A Christ centered relationship blesses and
strengthens each party, and both Marare and Northgate have experienced the
fruits of this. But a relationship requires 100% of our support. 50-50 isn’t enough,
nor is 60-40…nor even 90-10. Both sides contribute 100% and the relationship continues
to flourish.
So we come back to our original question.
Where does that leave us?
The answer hasn’t changed in all 4 years of
this relationship. Both Marare and Northgate are still struggling, and always
will. The problems may change, some things will improve, but we are all broken
ever since the fall.
Marare needs 100% of what we as a church
can give, and we need 100% of what Marare has to offer. If our faith and
passion has grown this much in just 4 years, imagine what the next 6 will be
like!
And imagine what Marare will look like….
So our support will remain in place—never faltering—until
Marare is ready to begin a relationship with a nearby community.
Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has
no one to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
