my thoughts: India's poverty

India - Houseboat

About 20 years ago I had the opportunity to go to India. I traveled with my husband John, my parents, and two sons Aaron and Brian and of course my brother Stephen who arranged everything.
I have never seen poverty like I saw on that trip. People sleeping on the sides of the road everywhere you went. Even the hotels we stayed in had only a few hours of electricity a day. I saw women carrying large heavy baskets filled with items on their heads everywhere they went. In many areas they still had to carry water daily to their humble abodes. Most people were barefoot and those that had shoes, they looked like our worn out ones not fit for the DI. Some people had vehicles but most did not. The tourists still hired people to bike them around town in a rickshaw. Those that had work, worked hard just to get enough money to buy the necessities, rice, beans and a few potatoes.
At the Taj Mahal we saw women stooped over cutting the grass with scissors. At the big Hilton Hotel they had lawn mower blades attached to a buffalo with a man guiding it to cut their lawn. The saddest sights were an old, old man bicycling a very overweight tourist up and over a steep bridge as he sat in the rickshaw. It tugged at my heart. I wondered how that old man had the strength to pedal that bike, would this be his last day before he died? It was so hot and humid. I felt there was a great injustice in this world, yet if he wanted to eat, he had to work. The other sad sight was when I looked into the eyes of the children, everywhere I went there was no joy, they had no hope and at such a young age. So many children I saw were the ages of our children. I realized then how blessed I was to live in America and how blessed my children were to have a carefree childhood.

When I returned back to Ogden after that 10 day trip, I remember seeing life much differently. I was serving as Relief Society president and as I heard the problems of those who never seemed to have enough, instead of feeling sorry for them, I knew instantly what would cure their complaining. An extended trip to India!

Everything we think we don’t have, is what makes us miserable, because of who we are comparing ourselves with. Instead of complaining of the furniture being worn, carpet needing to be replaced or the car broken down, millions of people in India have never slept in a bed, or sat at a table to eat, and wish they just had adequate clothing to cover themselves. People still sleep in cardboard boxes and have never used a toilet or seen a shower.

Our difficulties are all relevant. The Book of Mormon talks about the people in our day that wear all manner of precious clothing. That has always bothered me. My clothing is mostly the Kmart specials, JC Penny’s clearance rack, yet I have an abundant choice and my closet is full, the same goes for my shoes. I am trying to follow the teachings of the Savior, so where do I draw the line? To the rich I probably seem in poverty, yet to those in India, I appear to live as a queen. What is costly apparel? What if it is given to you and didn’t cost you anything? Am I considered hoarding clothes if I have more than a few changes for each season? What is my heart sat on? Is it the latest fashion? Do I shop because I need (or want) new clothes? Would giving away all but a few items solve my problem? Can I look presentable as a representative of the Lord, in clean but old clothes? If I never bought another item in my life and gave more money to the humanitarian fund would that solve my dilemma?

I don’t have the answer, but have a feeling that it is a process that begins with recognition, then pondering and asking for answers and the spirit will teach and give individual direction over time as I am ready. The correct answer will vary as I progress spiritually. Like the Word of Wisdom, there are many correct ways of living that law, or keeping the Sabbath day Holy, it’s a step by step program like everything else in the gospel.