Spreading the wealth... or not (by Jennings)

Street scene in Bunia

One of the daily, inescapable realities of living in Congo is the huge amount of need you see around you.  As foreigners, we want to be a blessing (more than a curse!) to the people who live here.  As Americans, we tend to be "problem-solvers", we want to fix every problem we see around us.  But we know this is not only impossible, it's a bad idea.  Throwing money around can create dependence, it can de-motivate people to find their own solutions, and it can undermine dependence on God.

At the same time, it is very appropriate for us to contribute to the economy by buying locally and by giving work (as we can) to local people so they can support their families.  It is also appropriate and right, at times, to help people in need - friends or strangers - with cash or gifts.  How to decide what to do?  We have some principles, but few hard and fast rules.  It takes prayer, discussion, and listening to our conscience.  Sometimes we find out later what the consequences were, but often we don't.         

In the past few days, we've had three very distinct opportunities to think about when and how to give.  They are examples of fairly typical situations we encounter here, and the questions we struggle with.

Stranger with a story

 

A man came to our door requesting to talk to me - only me.  He said he had seen me talking on the corner with two other expatriate women, one of whom he knew.  I agreed to listen.  I didn't understand him very well, but I think I got the gist.  He says he is internally-displaced, originally from a village that was attacked by militia and the U.N. evacuated him here.  He has been trying for some time to find a way back home.  He's been to the UNHCR (United National High Commission for Refugees), who say they can't help him because he isn't a refugee from another country, he is Congolese.  He has been to several other Christian aid organizations, and they can't help.  He went to one of the large local churches, but they say they can't help.  He needs $25 to pay for a ride in a truck.  He is hungry, is sleeping on a bench somewhere, and someone gave him shoes but they are too small.
Deliberation: We've heard this one before, actually, and we've been told to be careful because it is often a scam.  But... this guy had all kinds of papers backing up his story.  But then again... he's a complete stranger, and culturally it isn't right to ask someone you don't know for money, especially a foreigner.  But... he doesn't appear to have any family or friends in town, so who else is he supposed to ask?  So, do I want to potentially get cheated out of some cash and encourage a con artist to keep on conning?  On the other hand, do I want to turn away someone who may be in genuine need? Didn't Jesus say something about sheep and goats...?

What I did: Gave him some food and about a dollar in cash and wished him well.

Follow-up:  It turns out this same man had also been to the home of another expatriate woman, who was alone in her house for the weekend.  She had listened to him, asked lots of questions, called a Congolese friend for input (he discouraged her from giving him money), and given him a small amount of food and money, as I did.  Now, after having (limited) success with me, he went back to her house, and this time he pounded on her door and would not leave until she threatened to call the campus guards.  So, did I unwittingly encourage this guy to act aggressively toward my friend?  Did my (very small) gift do good, or do harm?

Friend with dead family member

 

A pastor that we know fairly well came by to tell us that he had a problem.  His nephew's wife had just died, and according to their custom, he needed to contribute a goat (or the cash equivalent) to the funeral.  A goat costs $50, and he did not have that.  He asked if we would loan him the amount and he would pay us back.

Deliberation: This is a man who has come to us several times with a variety of needs he would like help with, and we usually help him a bit.  But he has also invited us over to his house for a meal, and he and his wife have visited us and brought us a chicken.  So we feel there is reciprocity to this relationship, even if it does seem to center around his financial needs.  As we understand it, it is quite culturally appropriate to ask friends to contribute to the costs of a funeral, including the cost of feeding many people.  And it is appropriate for him to come to us, as we have an established relationship.  But... we are leery of loaning money, it gets too complicated.

What we did: We made a gift of about half the amount he asked for.  And we didn't hold him up with a lot of chitchat, as we knew he needed to go find the rest from someone else.

Follow-up:  He sent Douglas a text message the next day to say that the goat had been bought.  (We felt good about that one.)

Now for the worst one...

Soldier asking for a hand-out

First time I've run into this one.  I went into a shop to buy some mayonnaise, and there was a Congolese soldier, in uniform, sitting at a table having a beer.  He greeted me, wished me a happy New Year, and asked if I couldn't help him out by buying him a(nother) beer.

Deliberation: Ick.  There are so many things wrong about this....  As a missionary, I really should not be buying *anyone* a beer, especially not a soldier who has already had at least one this morning.  (Oh, did I mention it was 10 AM?)  Should I... tell him off? Scold him for drinking on duty?  Scold him for begging from a foreigner, when he is a proud Congolese soldier?  Do I really want to give money to a soldier, and possibly encourage him to see foreigners as a source of hand-outs?  (How does that affect the next foreigner he runs into?)  On the other hand... do I really want to make a (possibly armed, possibly tipsy) soldier angry?

What I did: As chance would have it (thank you, God!), I had *exactly* enough cash with me to buy the mayo, and not a franc more.  He clearly didn't believe me when I said this, and kept thinking of other, cheaper things I could give him money for, like fare for a motorcycle taxi.  I finally said, "I'm sorry, I can't help you today.  Happy new year."  And I left.

Follow-up: I am hoping that he does not decide to try to find out where I live (two doors down from that shop) and turn up here. 

Have you had sticky situations like these?  How did you decide what to do?