I have this opportunity to go to Burkina Faso, Africa. Anyone ever been there? It is one of the poorest countries of the world. I expect to be there in 58 days for a week. I will be with a Christian team leading a conference on “Men of Integrity”. It’s interesting that Integrity crosses all social economic bounds. It doesn’t matter how much money you have. It doesn’t matter how poor you are. Integrity still rules.
I really want to prepare myself for the experience in body, soul and spirit. To this end, I’ve adopted a new life style. In a nutshell, I am attempting to stay focused on God as a faith builder. I have chosen to spend no money for 60 days. My wife will continue her life, but I choose to spend zero dollars. This will accomplish a number of things. I’ve been wanting to lose weight. If I buy no food, I figure I will lose weight. I need to save money quick for the trip. If I buy nothing at all, I will have money to save.
So, this is day two. Total expenditure. $Zero. Banked the savings….
I hope one of the benefits of not having a meal guaranteed, to experience a small piece of what someone living in the poorest country of world experiences daily. I’m also hoping by an intense focus on God, to have a heart prepared for the people of need in Africa.
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Follow the Holy Freegan adventure with Archie and friends on… 
God Spots 
Hi Archie;
Nice thing about going to a poor country, you won’t need to buy shoes, so there is another saving 🙂
I’ve lived in a poor country and I have seen people without shoes, can’t afford them.
Ich, God works in mysterious and wonderous ways. No need for shoes and yet I still have feet. Can you honor me with a “God Spot” from your poor country adventure?
archie
Hi Archie;
I have one, I’ll post it here later today or in the morning and if you like it, can use it as a God Spot 🙂
Great! Thank you Ich. I look forward to it.
“Are you my Momma?”
She was standing there, holding a battered doll for dear life, probably her only possession.
We were on the beach, next to the Pacific.
She was knee high to a grasshopper, maybe three years old, four max and directed the question to my step daughter, a momma in her own right.
The little girl was an orphan in Mexico. She asked the question in Spanish. I didn’t understand her and my step daughter translated while holding the girl on her lap.
A few weeks later, friends of mine who owned a restaurant/bar on the coast asked me if I could help them on Saturday morning.
“Sure,” I replied.
The next morning I drove to my friends’ home and noticed quite a few children and mothers standing near the guard house.
Half hour later I was passing out tickets and welcoming children of all ages, including more than a handful of babies, for two bicycles. Over three hundred orphans and a few poor locals came to the lane dedicated to the annual festivity. They were each fed and given a bag full of clothing and one or two toys.
I noticed a boy frowning, not understanding why his bag was full of girl’s stuff. A moment later, I saw a girl with the same problem. I introduced the little tykes and helped them switch bags and received two big smiles.
This event sobered me to the realities of life, but also lifted my spirits at seeing so many delight in their good fortune at something that kids in more affluent places would not appreciate.
All the volunteers I knew, about twenty, were regular patrons at the Restaurant/Bar.
They helped make the orphans lives a little more pleasant.
As far as the little girl that this story started with, I looked for her that Saturday morning, but did not see her. We stayed in touch with her orphanage and had clothes and money sent there.
I discovered the owner of the hotel by the beach sponsored a day for the orphans a few times a year, lending personnel, giving food and other things so the children could enjoy.
The point of this God Spot, you never know where a God Spot comes from, when it happens or who may be involved 🙂