What will it be: water buffaloes or worms?
. . . That is a critical question facing our LAC kids this month. Actually, there are other options as well in the array of “creatures” that the annual LAC Heifer Project presents. Heifer Project International is the ecumenical self-development mission project begun by the Church of the Brethren, joined by Presbyterians and others – with a great constellation of children, including our own – which provides cattle and agricultural resources to people and communities in impoverished areas in 128 countries . . . empowering and enabling folks to thrive. It all began when a faithful Midwestern farmer named Dan West, upon learning in church of the plight of hungry children in the Spanish Civil War, in response to the limited charitable efforts of ladling out rations of milk, said: “These children don’t need a cup, they need a cow.” As a result in 1944, the first shipment of 17 heifer cows left York, Pennsylvania, for Puerto Rico, going to families whose malnourished children had never even tasted milk. In the time since then, churches and children have been a part of the Heifer effort which has grown to include a great menagerie of animals -- and worms! – each of which (the animals and worms that is) have a special contribution to make to a family and a community’s subsistence and food production. For example: A water buffalo can help family farmers grow four times more than if they plough by hand; and a buffalo can also help enrich the soil as do the worms, in their own special way!
Our children, along with their great efforts in this season’s fundraising for Heifer (Please don’t miss the May 4 Kids Garage Sale . . .), also have the special task of deciding what animals will be chosen for the international and domestic comminutes which will benefit from the LAC Heifer Project proceeds. Over the years that decision-making here at LAC, in a special Sunday School-wide forum, has become a very significant exercise of discernment for our youth. It’s been an experience engaging conscience and Christian compassion connecting our children in outreach and mission.
On a related note, regarding choices, the choosing which takes place presently in the lives of our young people is of profound proportions. A recent book describing this, Born to Buy, the Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture, reports that at least 80 per cent of all the leading international brands now require a “tween” strategy. (Tweens are a marketing category roughly comprising children from first grade to age twelve.) This entails not only food, fashion, music and culture, but also items traditionally thought of as adult orientated such as consumer electronics, hotels and cars. For example 40% of tweens are attached to certain car brands and 30% of adults ask them for their advice on car purchases. The point being made is that we have become a people that places a lower priority on teaching our children how to thrive socially, intellectually, even spiritually, than it does on training them to consume (albeit at the hands of the media and culture about us). Consider the consequences of such development in the lives of our children. Along with considering the choices before our children with the Heifer Project (and joining in, with our support!), let us take to heart the teaching and learning of our children, with our children, of life’s choices. Following up: please contact me if you’re interesting in further discussion on Born to Buy . . . and issues and choices confronting our children; join in our ministry with children and youth by becoming a Sunday School teacher or a youth advisor/faith partner; and let us keep our children and youth in our prayers.
Faithfully yours,
Bill
