Walking with the poor

In my last post I introduced CFCA and their mission to help the poor. Today I will introduce you to their newest project, Walk2gether.

Walk2gether is an 8,000 mile walk from Guatemala to Chile by CFCA's founder, 73 year old Bob Hentzen to join in solidarity with the poor and to bring attention to their plight. The walk began on Dec 29, 2009 and is scheduled to continue for 16 months. Bob and his companions will walk 20-25 miler per day, starting out at 3am on most days to avoid the heat. In 1996, at the age of 60, Bob walked 4,000 miles from Kansas City to Guatemala. Why does he do it? According to the Walk2gether website: "By walking with them, we are saying, 'You are not alone,'" Hentzen said. "We are listening to you and learning from you."

The poor walk everwhere, and by walking with them, Bob shows that he is helping them by becoming one of them, just as Jesus helped us by becoming one of us. Having met Bob on several trips to Guatemala, I think he would not be comfortable being compared to Jesus, but he is Jesus to those he helps, as we all should be. Bob and the CFCA staff live the Gospel daily, and they live it because they truly love others. They are an inspiration to all of us.

Visit the Walk2gether site to read Bob's blog and watch great videos of the walk and of the people Bob meets along the way, especially the children, and share the site with your friends. Visit their youth site if you have teens or work with youth as a teacher, a catechist or in youth ministry. This site is especislly geared towards teaching teens about the poor.

Please visit CFCA's website and consider sponsoring a child in Central America, South America, Africa or Asia. I sponsor two boys in Guatemala, and I have learned so much from them and their families. They truly love everyone and have complete trust in God (two things I continue to struggle with daily!).

You may also enjoy CFCA's YouTube and vimeo channels as much as I do.

By the way, what does all this have to do with Catholicism? Everything!