I talk a lot about the refugees we are befriending. The United Nations is sending them to Dallas in droves, about 2,500 last year alone. That means every week on average there are 10 or 12 families arriving here from places like Nepal (where these photos were taken), Burma, Thailand, Bhutan, Vietnam, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, and so many more.
Take a look at these photos. This Bhutanese family has been in a refugee camp in Nepal for 18 years. Suddenly, they're sent to Dallas. They get 6 months of support, during which time they have to learn English, find a job, figure out school for kids, figure out banking, junk mail, thermostats, smoke detectors,.... It's absolutely unbelievable. But they're right here in our backyard, and more are coming all the time.
Christians are traveling around the world on short-term projects in unprecedented numbers. And that's an awesome thing. For all the bad press Christians seem to receive, the amount of heartfelt, sacrificial service they've provided to the poorest of the poor around the world, and the funds given to that end, has certainly been unparalleled.
While we should never stop going to the "uttermost parts of the earth", we must also heed the first 3/4 of our commission. To reach out to our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria.
Traveling abroad for 10 days is life-changing. And very expensive.
Working with people from all over the world right on our doorstep, while still life-changing, is free. And priceless.
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