The past 5 days have felt like a month in itself. We have traveled to several cities, built new friendships, worked with different ministries, and now we are back to our home away from home at Ximenas hostal in San Salvador. It all feels like a dream.
Friday morning we left for San Miguel. Two men from la Iglesia Cristiana por la Gracias de Dios (the church there that we partnered with for the first part of our weekend), drove the three hours to come pick us up, then transported the seven of us, two guitars, and 7 day packs all the way back to San Miguel. (Our friend Salvador kept our packs for us at his house while we were gone). We met Pastor Job at a chicken place for lunch, and when we told our three hosts that we wanted to pay for their lunch, they told us that they, in fact, were paying for ours. This continued for the next 5 days, in 3 cities. Our transportation, lodging, and food were all covered by our generous hosts and there was nothing we could do about it!
Not only that, but we have been showered with all sorts of other kinds of blessing. Throughout San Miguel, Pompalón, and La Unión, we were prayed over, encouraged to share testimonies, play music, received tours to the best places around town, loved on as if we were family, and continuously thanked for just coming to visit. As we saw these beautiful people as huge blessings to us and this ministry, they saw us as answers to their prayers. God set this up for sure!
From sunrises on the bay, to a day at the country club, to dinner at the mayor’s house on the beach, team Rayos found ourselves fighting the “poverty mentality”. I thought this Race meant sleeping on a floor mat, not a bed. I thought it meant scrounging our pennies and living off of rice and beans, not drinking fresh milk from coconuts by the pool. Somehow I had it in my head that ministry meant suffering.
Here’s the thing: we have been praying for blessing. And we have been receiving it. So, why is it so hard to accept the gifts that God gives us–the very things that we asked for in the first place?
The last few days I have been learning how to receive. Sometimes receiving graciously, is a gift in itself. Our hosts gave and gave, without giving us the option to argue. In their minds, our presence was a gift to them; our hearts for their community and our willingness to jump in was something they had been praying for. They received their answer to prayer with loving arms and grateful hearts. So, I will receive our answers to prayer with the same.
Thank you, Lord, for providing every need, and more. Thank you for the many new friends I have made, stories I have become a part of, and memories I will hold onto. Thank you for teaching me: when life gives you coconuts, drink it in and enjoy!
