During week three at H.O.P.E. 4 DR, my team and I found ourselves doing construction; it was definitely my favorite ministry of the month for many reasons, but I want to take a minute to pinpoint 1 specific reason why I loved it: God taught and reminded me of life lessons through my difficult physical laboring. And I wanna talk about one in particular right now.
See, as I was lugging 35lb. buckets of gravel and rocks across almost 50 yards of slippery, muddy ground on the side of a mountain in the middle of the jungle. I was working side-by-side with my teammates as well as a 75 year old man named “Viejo”(Viejo is spanish for ‘old man’ hahaha!) anyways, Viejo is by far the hardest worker I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. And so, as I’m fumbling along the muddy path, heading back for what feels like my 500th bucket of rocks, I stop for a moment and watch Viejo work.
He’s filthy, just like me; he’s carrying a bucket that probably out-weighs my bucket by 15 pounds, and he’s bleeding from a fresh wound on his arm. And in spite of all this, he looks totally, completely at peace; he doesn’t look tired or frustrated or annoyed or defeated. He’s just fine. And it hits me:
“Our circumstances should never change our attitude; our attitude should always change our circumstances.”
See, he was working just as hard as i was, if not harder, and while i was complaining in my head and thinking of all the things I’d rather be doing, he was totally in the moment, focused on what he was doing and he was CONTENT WITH IT! He wasn’t letting his circumstances change his attitude.
So, with a renewed spirit and mind, I determined to be like Viejo. I stopped thinking about what I’d rather be doing and focused on what I was doing and focused on how the pavillion I was working on would help and bless future missionaries and visitors. I focused on how amazing and strong and beautiful God has created the human body to be; I encouraged my teammates; I thanked Viejo for the opportunity to work with him and I told him that I one day hope to work as hard as he does. And you know what? That extremely difficult day of labor turned into a celebration! When Viejo and I filled up the last 2 buckets of rocks we both let out screams and shouts of joy for a job well done. And then he and his wife prayed over our team and told us how strong and determined we are and what a blessing we and our squad had been to them.
That was my last day of ministry in DR. It was the perfect ending to my 1st month. I’m determined to remember what I learned that day and apply it to everyday of the race and to every day of my life, too. Circumstances should never change my attitude; my attitude should always change my circumstances. Simply put: choose joy! Every. Single Day. Choose. Joy.
Or, ” In other words, adopt the mindset of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts…” –Philippians 2:5(VOICE)
