I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated and enjoyed reading your blog throughout your travels. I have accomplished, vicariously, my lifelong dream of doing just what you have done!

Your struggles are universal! My approach to this problem locally is to only give food, i.e., I will take the person to a restaurant and I will pay for their meal, but I will not give them $$. Some take me up on this, some don’t, I figure this filters out the truly intentional from the unintentional!

As far as the global issue is concerned, we have chosen to financially support those organizations who are, indeed, helping at the grassroots level. We have found most of them through the Missions Conference held yearly in Vancouver, BC. We can talk personally with those involved and that way can ensure that our donations are being utilized properly.

In all other situations, it’s a case by case basis and we trust the HS to help us know when to give and when to withhold.

God bless you both!

Ridgely and Wally