1 Peter 1: 3,8
3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead … 8 Although you
have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now,
you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy”
As I reflect on these past few days in mission in Nuevo Progreso, I will
forever have in my memory the love and joy that I saw in the faces of the
parents and children for whom we built a home. They live in such great material
poverty but radiate the riches they have in Christ. The children were so full
of joy and laughter as they played together in the blowing dust, making toys
out of whatever they could find around their home. What we may call trash is
possibly treasure in their eyes. I felt I wanted to give them so many things
but realized that God’s love and grace is enough. The last day was so very full
of emotion, not only for the dear family, but for all of us. Manuel, the father
of the family, expressed how so grateful he and his family was for a mission
such as ours and in a time such as this, that we could find it in their hearts
to come so far to help and love as Christ calls us to do. The family’s appreciation brought so many
tears of joy, because they saw in all of us the hands and feet of Christ
working right along beside of them building them a better shelter. Manuel and Paula (parents) said they will
forever have us all in their hearts, as we will also. Their hospitality was so
wonderful. They gave us a feast – a beautiful meal to thank us all. We broke bread together, giving thanks to God
for the fellowship we shared with each other and for the new friends we made. I
thank God for working through me to joy to bring smiles and hope to such gracious
family far away yet so close to my heart. It is such an overwhelming feeling to
feel such satisfaction in and through Christ.
It was so hard to say our farewells- I must say it leaves a hole in my heart! I am so thankful and grateful for the
opportunity to be a servant of the Lord, receiving joy in return. I hold the five
precious children and their parents in my heart and pray for the Lord to keep a
circle of protection around them and for the doors of opportunity to open for
them. I pray for their faith and joy and
hope in God to remain steadfast in the midst of great poverty and drought.
Psalm 126:2b, 3 “The LORD has
done great things for them. The LORD has
done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Liz Winfree
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