Three people have suggested the Lutheran church in Leadville on separate occasions and I now have a phone number and pastor's name. I also had a long conversation with a pastor at a Lutheran church here in Monument that has experience working with the churches in Leadville. He explained that the mentality of folks in a mountain town is different that what we see here on the front range and may present some challenges. He also warned that the locals' apathy toward the Mexican resort workers will be a huge discouragement. Many there think poor people got themselves in that situation and should be able to work their way out of it. I think that misconception is common and not in anyway limited to mountain communities.
Compassion International explains that poverty is a lack of hope due to a lack of choices and opportunity. Poor people are not lazy - as hard as they work, they cannot get out of the cycle they are in. These people make so little money they cannot save up for unexpected expenses and have difficulty buying the bare necessities. Each paycheck they must decide to eat, pay one bill, or save up to have the car fixed. Without the car they cannot work, and if they cannot work, they cannot make money, but they need to eat, so the car doesn't get fixed, so they cannot work, and so the cycle goes.
We must keep in mind that it is not up to any of us to change their minds and convince them to help those around their community. We can show them the hundreds of bible verses regarding the poor and can explain why they need to help until we are blue in the face. Ultimately, we are asked to obey God by being His hands and feet. Only He can change their hearts, and ours can be softened in the process of asking theirs to be softened.
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