I can do more with less, I thought I understood what this meant. I thought I understood what it was to live simply, a minimalist life with less stuff…but I was wrong.
For the past three months I’ve lived with less and still so much more than many of the people that I have been called to serve. And this month as I am desperately and prayerfully considering how to get rid of as much stuff in my pack as possible while living with over 20 people in a complex with no running water, minimal electricity (that is often out) and limited space I’m reconsidering what living with less really means. I’ve been here two weeks and I haven’t even touched half of the clothes in my pack. I’ve cooked for 20+ people on a fire outside or in a kitchen that can’t possibly be more than the storage unit I have back home packed full of my stuff. There are three TVs on site, one of which doesn’t really work. And I look at these sweet children who I live with and think about how wonderful they are. Full of life and energy and love. Healthy, loved and content. I am heathy, loved and content. It’s hard sometimes, but it’s so good. I’m fed, I’m dry, I’m healthy and I’m clean(ish).
The people around me play and build close relationships because they live and work and talk together all the time. They aren’t distracted by the devices around them and the way the world tells them life is supposed to be.
I want to posture my heart to live here (metaphorically—family don’t read that literally). To remember how well we lived here with so little, and yet so much. I think I wrote last month about chapter 6 verse 10 of 2 Corinthians, but the last line continues to ring in my head this month: as having nothing yet possessing everything. This is how we should live, reminded that nothing really belongs to us and those living with less are often far happier for it. So again, I’m wondering what I can let go of to live a happier life – on the mission field and when I come home.
Can I challenge you as or leaders have challenged us? Is there something in your life you are clinging to that you can let go of, even for a week? A habit or addiction that you lean on instead of God for joy or strength? YouTube, coffee, Netflix or even sleeping-in when you know you would be better off to wake up and spend time with the lord? Eliminate something that is a distraction from your life this week, I’d be willing to bet you’d find you could live without it.
A few fun tidbits about life this month:
-Today I sat with a 1st grader who read a children’s bible to me in Spanish. It was a blessing to be able to show him some extra love and attention today, that’s all these children want from us.
-A dead fly was found floating in my coffee…I scooped it out and continued drinking, because making coffee is not so easy here and that was less effort than making a new cup.
-I don’t think I’ll ever get used to cold bucket showers, but I am grateful for the rain that fills our water barrels and the feeling of clean that comes after I brave the fridgid water. (It’s not particularly warm here, so it’s not as refreshing as you might think.)
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With love,
Sara
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