The Practice of Love

Sorry for the delay y’all it has certainly been a time since I updated because we have been busy with debrief, training, and now the start of our ministry in Romania. Any who, here’s to the blessing that was the end of our time in Guate!

My last essay of a blog was my little attempt of poetic prose to try and capture the beauty of what I found in what God had been speaking to me, but in retrospect, I feel like its best shown in the life that He has blessed me with, here in Peten. Here He has surrounded me with shining examples of what love is and looks like, of what He speaks of in 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John. Here in a climate that I have vowed never to reside in permanently, I feel I have found more love than I had ever known before.

I found love in the smiles of the kids (toss-able and otherwise). The kids who patiently wait for us to get to their schools and bring us flowers and buds, lilies and hyssop. In the hospitality and kindness on the faces of those who posses the least has warmed me the most. During a Thursday house visit, with three women of the village (Carry, Vanja, and Mel for anonymity). As they shared their lives and joked with us, they selflessly prepared a whole papaya for us. Even though they requested prayer for His providence, they trust in the Lord to provide for them, knowing that they could love and give without fear that He wouldn’t somehow provide and answer their prayers.

I have heard love in the words of our hosts and ministry partners. Most especially a close friend of mine whom we’ll name Major. He partners with us to lead soccer and educate the older boys of our ministry sites and no matter how much the kids irk us or completely ignore us, He is always quick to love them. One day when the kids ignored every word we said, He could only say how much He loves them and is so thankful that He gets to pour into the and lead them because it is such a blessing, and each laugh and smile is a reward. As we journeyed on foot between sites in the pouring rain for 3 miles, He was so thankful that He could suffer as the founders of OneWay did, and even as the apostles and Christ did, for the kingdom (Acts 5:40-41). No matter the circumstance, he is quick to thank the Lord and find joy that he is counted worthy for the task at hand and he persists in love and gratitude.

I saw love in celebrating the birthday of our favorite treasurer Jordan. In spite of the circumstances of extreme uncertainty with transportation leading to us hitching a ride in the back of a produce truck, there wasn’t any complaint but rather joy and laughter. In the preparation of a delectable potato bar and an interesting cake, my teammates dug into their own pockets to celebrate Jordan. In the midst of having little and in the midst of abandonment, there is so much love.

The love that I have the privilege of witnessing in my team, our ministry hosts, and in the villages, I have seen the steadfastness of the Lord’s love which He has poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5). This love overcomes conflict and sin, even enabling our team to do feedback daily because it is in love that we edify one another and call each other higher (Ephesians 4:16). I can’t thank the Lord enough that I get to see this love and I can’t thank Him enough that I have been called to pour it out, even as He as poured into me.

In the blessing that this has been I want to ask y’all to also bless myself and others in prayer. Pray for the families of Carry, Vanya, and Mel, that He would continue to hear their prayers and provide for them. Please pray for my team as we embark on the journey of debrief and wrestle with everything the last two months have been, how we can make sense of it all to glorify Him and grow closer in the process. So thankful for y’all, hasta lhuego!