http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/culture/is-excess-commonplace-regardless-of-place/ Candid Talk from Christian Missionaries Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:57:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/culture/is-excess-commonplace-regardless-of-place/#comment-1037 toddh Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:44:43 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/culture/is-excess-commonplace-regardless-of-place/#comment-1037 Man, right on. Great post. I think when one doesn't encounter the poor all that often, it's easy to develop an image of them that isn't true. A nice reality check about human nature everywhere. And congratulations on your latest addition!! You will miss the old nights of sleep. Man, right on. Great post. I think when one doesn’t encounter the poor all that often, it’s easy to develop an image of them that isn’t true. A nice reality check about human nature everywhere. And congratulations on your latest addition!! You will miss the old nights of sleep.

]]> http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/culture/is-excess-commonplace-regardless-of-place/#comment-910 Arnau Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:36:42 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/culture/is-excess-commonplace-regardless-of-place/#comment-910 We did a survey last year in Swaziland. Of all the homes visited only 52% were made of bricks or cement blocks - the rest were made of mud. Only 15% of the homes had electricity. Of those which had electricity, we found the following: 86% had a fridge, 71% had a TV and 38% had an electric stove. I had the feeling that overall there wasn't much excess in these homes. But if I have to be honest, looking at myself and what we have (and we consider ourselves to be in a below-average salary bracket, then I know that I have a huge number of luxury items which is not really necessary. And you are right - this makes my responsibility so much greater to manage my finances responsibly and in accordance with God's will. We did a survey last year in Swaziland. Of all the homes visited only 52% were made of bricks or cement blocks - the rest were made of mud. Only 15% of the homes had electricity. Of those which had electricity, we found the following: 86% had a fridge, 71% had a TV and 38% had an electric stove. I had the feeling that overall there wasn’t much excess in these homes. But if I have to be honest, looking at myself and what we have (and we consider ourselves to be in a below-average salary bracket, then I know that I have a huge number of luxury items which is not really necessary. And you are right - this makes my responsibility so much greater to manage my finances responsibly and in accordance with God’s will.

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