YOU BE THE JUDGE?
"A money belt is one thing you just can’t do without," my
friend told me. ’Make sure you take travelers’ checks with you
and maybe a few twenties, and tuck them in your money belt
before you leave. And don’t ... DON’T go pawing through your
money when you’re out on the street. You just can’t trust
anyone."
Soon after that conversation, I found myself sitting
sandwiched between two people on a commuter bus. I had just
arrived in Manila, Philippines, for a two-week missions trip,
and this was my first bus ride. So far, there’d been no
problems, but as we neared our destination, I began looking
for dollar bills to pay the driver. That’s when I realized --
I didn’t have any cash handy. It was all in my belt.
The bus was now pulling up to the curb. Everyone rose, and I
figured in the confusion I’d slip out my money belt long
enough to get what I needed. Counting the change, I swayed
forward with the press, and then slipped my shirt back over
the belt. That wasn’t so dangerous, after all, I thought.
Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw a kid
probably no older than sixteen in tattered clothes staring at
me with wide eyes. I wondered what he wanted —- until I looked
down at what he was offering me: a wad of $100 bills. I hadn’t
been as careful with my money as I thought!
According to UNICEF, the average annual income for an American
family is $34,260; in the Philippines, it’s *$1,040. This teen
was handing me several months of a grown man’s wages. And they
told me not to trust anyone!
*http://www.unicef.org/statis/Country_1Page138.html
YOU BE THE JUDGE?
"A money belt is one thing you just can’t do without," my
friend told me. ’Make sure you take travelers’ checks with you
and maybe a few twenties, and tuck them in your money belt
before you leave. And don’t ... DON’T go pawing through your
money when you’re out on the street. You just can’t trust
anyone."
Soon after that conversation, I found myself sitting
sandwiched between two people on a commuter bus. I had just
arrived in Manila, Philippines, for a two-week missions trip,
and this was my first bus ride. So far, there’d been no
problems, but as we neared our destination, I began looking
for dollar bills to pay the driver. That’s when I realized --
I didn’t have any cash handy. It was all in my belt.
The bus was now pulling up to the curb. Everyone rose, and I
figured in the confusion I’d slip out my money belt long
enough to get what I needed. Counting the change, I swayed
forward with the press, and then slipped my shirt back over
the belt. That wasn’t
...