Yesterday, a group of us reached out to the people at the north side of Palenque town. We spoke with people and handed them flyers describing the get together that we have been planning with Noe, one of our contacts who is just getting started in his home based ministry.
Noe, his wife Delfina, and four children, Edwin, 13, Daniel, 12, Arnolnoe, 11 and Chelvene, 2, live in a home built of cinderblocks and a tin roof. The “rooms” are divided by half-cinderblock walls and makeshift curtains. The concrete floors and dim lighting give off a cold and dingy feeling. The “bathroom” is located at the back right corner of the house and is also divided by a low curtain. The standard seat-less toilet seems to grow out of the middle of the floor. Because they cannot afford plumbing in the house, two large barrels are at the back of the house and holds water for bathing, flushing the toilet, washing the clothes and probably for cleaning the dishes also.
However, Noe and Delfina are warm, friendly, loving and full of passion for the Lord. Their children are not only well-behaved but are the greatest little helpers around the house. They helped put the “pews” together for the in-home church gathering – stacking and spacing out three sets of cinderblocks and placing a wooden plank across the stacks. Their passion to evangelize their community has manifested in opening their home to the community and serving refreshments, when they can barely get by with putting dinner on the table on Noe’s single income of selling ice cream out of his red 1970’s VW Bug. Their generosity and enthusiasm has touched me to great lengths.
Another team B racer and I were having a conversation and she asked “How can these people live like this?” Referring to the ultra-poor living conditions and I replied back with the cliché, “´Ignorance is bliss´. When they’ve lived like this all their lives, they don’t know what it’s like to live another way”. We both were very solemn and pitied their living conditions.
But this morning, “Our Living Bread”, a daily devotional that I’ve been reading, was titled “You and Your Possessions”. The scripture of the day was Matthew 19:16-26. Basically teaching that, “It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. After reading and being reminded of this, I thanked God for the spirit of this family and for His salvation. Although poor and lacking in material possessions, this family is very rich in spirit. They have surrendered to and relied on God for everything. HE delivers.
Ironically, after reading this morning’s devotion, my heart went out to all the Americans. We are considered rich in the world’s standards. If “it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”, what does this mean for America?
Be encouraged that with God all things are possible!
