Having completed the challenge I've thought and experienced many things. At first i expected to find the shopping and cooking an arduous task since groceries are getting more and more expensive over here. This fear grew when coupled with my appetitie and taste for flavoursome food. However, i was plesently surprised by what i cooked up in the kitchen and how full or at least satisfied i was with portions. A couple of nights i did feel a little hungry before bed but that also got me thinking. How would someone living like this every day of the week cope? Would hunger become a regular ocurance? or would they simple eat more heap foods, cutting out fresh fruit, veg and meats?
The more I counted my consumption the more i questioned my choice in the matter. My shopping was thrifty but limited in choice as many things were well above budget. I began to realise the everyday choices that people in poverty face, to eat better, or maybe save those few dollars or pence for the future. What if one day the money i used for food was needed for somehting else? new clothes? increased rent? medicine?
It really was an eye opener for me to see how blessed we all are in our safe, warm homes. Food on the table, rooves above our heads and beds to sleep in. And i dont have to look far to see people not so blessed. In Hong Kong more than 17% of people live in poverty, calculated at an income of 3000HKD/Month (around £250). Even paying half their wage on the cheapest rent to live in crapped apartments or even cages! It's true.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UcYiRBYxbM
I never really knew or even thought about the oxymoron of the poor and rich in Hong Kong.
What now?
I've been stretched by this challenge, physically, mental and emotionally. At a spiritual level i am also questioning how ignorant and apathetic I am towards poverty and other social injustices. This week has helped focus some of my vision away from myself, my friends and family, towards a larger family. Not only a family of Christ through brothers and sisters, but through God. As we are all children created by the Lord, we should learn to care for each other. Jesus taught many times on loving and giving to those in need, but i rarely ever saw beyond my own circle.
I'm not sure of my future direction in relation to the challenge. Will i become a rights activist and fight for the poor... most likely not, but i have learnt an invaluable lesson on the reality of poverty and the problems it involves. I hope to take part in similar challenges and also share will my local friends and families in time to come. Little by little we can help to raise awareness and fight poverty. Who will join us next time?
