Wow, time sure flies when you are having fun. It's hard to believe it's been a month since our last posting. We are adjusting and adapting to life in a third world country. As I write this it occurred to me ask the question what is a third world country? Since El Salvador has water (though not safe to drink), electricity and the internet most of the time, is it fair to call it a true third world country? To answer that question I went to the web for the following definition.
What makes a nation third world?
Despite everevolving definitions, the concept of the third world serves to identify countries that suffer from high infant mortality, low economic development, high levels of poverty, low utilization of natural resources, and heavy dependence on industrialized nations. These are the developing and technologically less advanced nations of Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. Third world nations tend to have economies dependent on the developed countries and are generally characterized as poor with unstable governments and having high rates of population growth, illiteracy, and disease. A key factor is the lack of a middle class—with impoverished millions in a vast lower economic class and a very small elite upper class controlling the country’s wealth and resources. Most third world nations also have a very large foreign debt. (from Encyclopedia of World Geography)
Despite everevolving definitions, the concept of the third world serves to identify countries that suffer from high infant mortality, low economic development, high levels of poverty, low utilization of natural resources, and heavy dependence on industrialized nations. These are the developing and technologically less advanced nations of Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. Third world nations tend to have economies dependent on the developed countries and are generally characterized as poor with unstable governments and having high rates of population growth, illiteracy, and disease. A key factor is the lack of a middle class—with impoverished millions in a vast lower economic class and a very small elite upper class controlling the country’s wealth and resources. Most third world nations also have a very large foreign debt. (from Encyclopedia of World Geography)
- Extreme wealth and extreme poverty
- Extremely good health care and extremely poor health care
- Extreme hope and extreme despair
On one journey here I witnessed on the roadside a cart of produce being pulled by a cow. It was being passed by what appeared to be a brand new John Deere tractor.
There are private hospitals here that I am told rival the health care available in the United States. I am also told that you don't want to go to the public hospitals with anything serious because you will likely die there.
I have attached below a photo of what is, sadly, very typical here of a man with no hope, only despair. He has turned to alcohol to relieve himself of his burdens. I have also attached a photo of others who, in spite of their poverty, have a joy and peace that comes from knowing the Savior of the world.
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| Life filled with despair and without hope |
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Lives filled with the joy of knowing they are loved |
Life is full of choices. Many lead to despair but there is only one that leads to a joy and peace that lasts for eternity.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Jesus as quoted in Matthew 11:28-30
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