The Value of Stuff

One of the primary lessons anyone would expect to learn by visiting Africa is how wealthy we as Americans are. We may understand this conceptually, but the power is definitely in the details.

Things I'd never even thought of as luxuries certainly are.


Fashion is a luxury.
Being literate is a luxury.
Extreme cleanliness is a luxury.
A varied diet, medicine, leisure time, hobbies...

But I think the bigger lesson is how worthless all of our STUFF - the things we think we need to "survive" - the stuff we "need" - really is!

The gap between what we truly need and what we have is even larger than I thought. Objects we consider useless because they no longer look perfect are still perfectly useful.

I've realized how much of the same thing I have - in my kitchen cabinets, in my closets - spare bowls, pots, pans, drinking glasses, shoes, shirts, pants, towels, bed sheets. What would we do without a month's supply of all of these things!?! It seems truly ridiculous in comparison!

Limited resources necessitate the value of Function over Form. But Form is still valued. Art and creativity abound with the kids at Mtendere.

I loved seeing how the kids re-use objects in creative ways - such as the wire used to form these "galimotos" (pictured, left) that the Mtendere children make to sell.

I got to know Halodi (Hallo-dee), a twelve year old boy living at Mtendere, during one of the evening devotionals. Hopefully I will have a picture to share of him soon. I am posting pictures of a few drawings he gave to me as gifts. These have more value than anything else I brought back with me!

I would love to hear from others - I know many of you have had similar experiences. How has an experience like this changed your perspective on the value of our stuff? Has it changed what you buy, the utility of what you have, or what you give?

Thank you, God, for showing me what is valuable. I will need constant reminders of this! Please help me make the most of the all of the resources I've been blessed with - family, friends, health, education, skills. Help me be mature enough to resist the temptation to "keep up with Jonses'" for true happiness lies in helping others - not in hoarding stuff. It's Your stuff, anyways!

“I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10