In chapter three we read of the last days of Greg's time on K-2. In chapter four, we learn what brought him there in the first place-his wanderings and the loss of his sister Christa. Much of chapter three deals with Greg's shock at learning how part of the world lives. As a one of the children of missionary parents, he had experienced poverty before. He noted extreme kindness-- a family in the mountains had covered him in their finest possession, a quilt (e-edition, loc 568). What really struck him was the "school" he visited. About 90 children, gathered on a rock (no building), with a teacher only three days a week. The children wanted to learn so much they came everyday, just to quietly review thier lessons. The teacher is paid $1 a day.
We had a similar experience in Guatemala last winter. We were helping build a fence outside of the local elementary school. It seemed like there were more important things we could be doing. We later learned that the fence helped the 8 or so teachers manage the 500 or so students. Can you imagine how hard it would be to learn under those circumstances?
Greg's late sister had some disabilities and he loved her with a fierce passion. He had gone to climb K-2 to place a necklace she'd worn at the top. He never made it. If you think back to last week's post, it seems that was his destination. Along the journey he met the people who lived on the mountain. The journey brought him to the realization that his real destination was to build a school. I imagine as the book continues there will be new destinations laid before him, discovered along his journey.
Who actually knows when his journey began? He describes how his parents, though missionaries, "wore thier faith lightly" and thier home "became more of a community than a religious center." (e-edition, loc. 705) What his parents might have known is that part of helping people understand faith is helping them hope. By building a hospital in Africa, Greg's parents helped the African people realize what they --the people-- could accomplish. (loc. 750)It wasn't about saying "look what we've done for you." Rather it was about saying "look what you've done for yourselves." How has hope shaped your faith?
A final question. Greg reviews the ideas of some of the older writers who'd written about these mountain people. He found himself wondering, if it's "better to live in ignorace of everything" than to know what you are missing. (e-edition loc. 606) Do you agree? Would you rather know what you don't have or not know what you don't have?
We had a similar experience in Guatemala last winter. We were helping build a fence outside of the local elementary school. It seemed like there were more important things we could be doing. We later learned that the fence helped the 8 or so teachers manage the 500 or so students. Can you imagine how hard it would be to learn under those circumstances?
Greg's late sister had some disabilities and he loved her with a fierce passion. He had gone to climb K-2 to place a necklace she'd worn at the top. He never made it. If you think back to last week's post, it seems that was his destination. Along the journey he met the people who lived on the mountain. The journey brought him to the realization that his real destination was to build a school. I imagine as the book continues there will be new destinations laid before him, discovered along his journey.
Who actually knows when his journey began? He describes how his parents, though missionaries, "wore thier faith lightly" and thier home "became more of a community than a religious center." (e-edition, loc. 705) What his parents might have known is that part of helping people understand faith is helping them hope. By building a hospital in Africa, Greg's parents helped the African people realize what they --the people-- could accomplish. (loc. 750)It wasn't about saying "look what we've done for you." Rather it was about saying "look what you've done for yourselves." How has hope shaped your faith?
A final question. Greg reviews the ideas of some of the older writers who'd written about these mountain people. He found himself wondering, if it's "better to live in ignorace of everything" than to know what you are missing. (e-edition loc. 606) Do you agree? Would you rather know what you don't have or not know what you don't have?
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