Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16

"I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out."

This made me think of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its mission to help the poor and needy. We don't just give someone money or provide everything for them. The need is accessed and with knowledge of the cause a way to lift the person out of it is the best approach in recovering their self-reliance.

It reminds me of the cyclone that hit Tonga in 2019. The church could have sent materials or money to rebuild the homes. Instead it sent a mini-sawmill to let the Tonjan's help themselves. With the saw they could cut up the blown over coconut trees for lumber to rebuild their homes. It's the same principle as "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." (Chinese proverb) With the sawmill in the hands of the Tongan saints, a vocational carpentry training program and additional tools were put in place. Helping them learn skills that would later generate additional income for them after the pressing need is relieved. That is a true hand-up and not just a hand-out.

Day 2624