12. Write an entry about poverty! You might want to drive by an area that is impoverished, and make some notes on what you see and what you think con

12. Write an entry about poverty! You might want to drive by an area that is impoverished, and
make some notes on what you see and what you think contributes to the neighborhood's
condition. What do you think is the most important crisis? How do they interlock? How, then,
can they be solved? Do you see signs of hope and success? Explain.
When I think about poverty, I immediately thing about other countries and areas around the world. I picture dirt, and shanty villages. I have mentioned before that I have friends who are currently missionaries, one in Haiti, and one who is traveling to multiple countries throughout the year. I can only imagine the things that they see, and face daily. Small children partly clothed, who barely receive one meal a day.
That is what I picture when I think of poverty. The problem with that thinking, is that poverty does not only exist in other countries. Poverty, I believe, is not directly related to money, but to a standard of life. When certain standards are not met, a person is in life affecting poverty.
For over five years, I worked for a summer mission camp, TEAMeffort. Our mission was to work in low income are elderly areas, improving tangible things like their house.

In areas all across the country, TEAMeffort has worked with families that live in all kinds of conditions. Children that share a room with multiple other family members. Some do not have working restrooms, or even running waters. Many people do not have adequate trash removal and therefore live an an area that is unclean.
With my passion for children, it is hard for me to see young kids in such circumstances that hinder their health and quality of life. When parents have to spend all their time working just to make enough to cover basic needs, young children are often expected to grow up at a hideous rate. Children should play, not have to take care of other children and the home.

Regarding health, I feel that so much is linked to clean and adequate water. As we have studied in our class this semester, pollution can travel. Everyone is linked and can affect others. Many areas around the world are not linked to water, other areas do not have proper knowledge of clean water and have multiple things that damage their water.
I believe the issues of poverty and proper quality of life can be fought. A lot has to do with knowledge. People who have, can easily give a little and help a lot. People that don't have much, can be taught to live in a healthier way.
We all have to be willing to go to the areas we are not familiar with, and help out in ways we didn't know we could. If we all did a little, a whole lot of change would be made.