Many college students have big dreams about how they’ll use their university degrees to change the world. But for many of us, real life sets in shortly after we graduate. There are loans to pay back, rent to cover, salaries that draw us in, love interests that anchor us to a particular city. Many times, life just doesn’t work out in the idealistic way we expect.

But what happens to those who really do follow through? In this episode, I sat down with Mesha Smith, who served with Food for the Hungry for four years in Peru. She talked about her experiences living cross-culturally–about the changes she saw happen in the communities where she served, and about the changes that God brought about in her own life through the experience.

Mesha Smith received her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at New Mexico State University. She joined Food for the Hungry in 2006 and served for four years in Lima, Peru through the Hunger Corps program. Mesha worked as Communication Coordinator and Community Development Promoter. She took photos, wrote stories, designed literature, and created videos about the work of FH in Peru. Mesha now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she works with InFaith, a mission organization that ministers within the United States. She works in their Communication Department and is helping to form an intentional community of believers who live together in order to minister to their Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood.

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Is clean water the solution to poverty? Or is it health care? Education, perhaps?

In this audio episode, Wendy McMahan speaks from years of experience in serving vulnerable communities and observing transformational development through the work of Food for the Hungry.

Journey with Wendy as she unpacks what it means to “consider the poor.” (Psalm 41:1) God’s solution to poverty just might surprise you.

Items mentioned in this episode

• Generous Justice by Tim Keller
• Sponsor a child

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All too often, women are the face of poverty and injustice. More women and girls have been killed in the last 50 years by the hands of gender-injustice than men were killed in military battles in the last 100 years. At least one in every three women globally has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

In this episode, Jayme Cloninger, Public Policy Consultant for FH, shares about the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA).

Read about the Learn, Speak and Give Campaign.

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Anne Brown reveals the invisible causes of poverty: ideas. Examples from Guatemala, Zimbabwe, and India show the transformational effects that biblical ideas can have on impoverished communities—and the tragic consequences of destructive ideas.

Anne Brown is Regional Manager of Global Engagement at Food for the Hungry. If you enjoyed this episode, listen to Anne share the benefits of having personal relationships with the poor.

Also mentioned in this episode! Audio from Summit 2010: The Truth about Poverty is now online. Check out the workshops below.

The Truth about Child Sponsorship with Jewel Anita Hendrix
The Truth about Physical Poverty with Victor Cortez
The Truth about the Human Soul with Paul Wilson
The Truth about Serving with Steve Corbett
The Truth about Prayer with Darryl Delhousaye
International Staff Panel with FH field staff

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Our daily life is influenced by the way we understand heaven and God’s kingdom. In this interview, Beth Allen shares insight gained from reading Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. Beth applies an understanding of the new heaven and new earth to cross-cultural work, the local church, and Christians’ circles of influence.

Beth Allen is Placement Services Manager at Food for the Hungry. She served in the Hunger Corps program as Special Projects Coordinator in Bolivia for four years.

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Alisa Schmitz answers questions about church partnerships. When a church in the U.S. partners with a community in the developing world, life change occurs on both sides of the relationship. The overseas community can be released from poverty, and the U.S. church can also learn and grow. Ultimately, church partnerships exist to bring about the Kingdom of God.

In this episode…

1. The goal of long-term church partnerships
2. Preparation for short-term mission trips and ongoing relationships (Matthew 10:9-10)
3. Honoring the people we are serving (Ruth 2:15-16)
4. Keys to ongoing, vibrant relationships

Learn more about Community-2-Community partnerships – long-term relationships between American churches and communities in the developing world.

Alisa Schmitz is Senior Director of Global Engagement at Food for the Hungry.

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This episode is the second in a series called “Laying the Foundation,” an update on the introductory episodes of Poverty Unlocked.

“’I just brought you the kingdom of God, and it’s a size 7 pair of shoes. But don’t thank me! Thank God…’ Does that strike anybody else as a pretty shallow kingdom?”

There is a difference between converts and disciples. Missional living is connected to wholistic ministry, but we need to make one step beyond living missionally. We discuss handing out food and shoes, and how to share Christ without undermining our message.

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The truth about H1N1 Flu, also known as Swine Flu. Carolyn Wetzel explains the pandemic threat, separating hype from real concerns, and analyzes the threat to the developing world. For news on pandemic flu, visit the World Health Organization, the United Nations influenza site, and the US government site.

Carolyn Wetzel is Health Programs Coordinator at Food for the Hungry.

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People who live in poverty are experts on how to get through tough economic times. Here are some tips learned from people who live on less than two dollars a day.

Mentioned in this episode: Rooftop and Urban Gardening, a resource from ECHO

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Thankfulness among the poor.

Are the poor thankful? For what? Listen to reports from people working with poor and marginalized people around the world.

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