Which country did you like best?
The most asked question of my life at this point, aside from the ever present question, so what’s next?
Truthfully every time I am asked this question it makes me think, “Was there supposed to be just one?” Because for me, I fell in love with each country. Now each for different reasons, and each at different points of my stay, but nonetheless, God graced me with eyes to see the beauty of every place my feet have wandered.
In Swaziland I fell in love with how deeply the people loved. I saw this specifically regarding the kids at the CarePoint. They cared for each other like they were all family. If a kid was crying for whatever reason they would not hesitate to go over and dry that child’s tears and snot with their own hand. They taught me that everyone should be treated with the kindness and compassion you show your family.
In Nepal it was the passion and generosity of our hosts. Even though they had little they wanted and were so willing to share all that they had left with us. Their house, food, alone time, family time, WiFi, even their parents, Mama and Papa became our Mama and Papa. Our host family lost almost everything in the earthquake a few years ago. They lost their house, church, land, and an income. But they kept faith that God would provide, and He has! They now have a house and are able to host world race teams, and they host church services right in their living room! It may look like this family has very little but man, they are making leaps and bounds for the Kingdom in Nepal. They are out encouraging fellow believers, inviting people to church, and sharing the gospel to any willing ear.
Northeast India, very different from mainland India. In this little village there were more churches than I could count! I fell in love with the village lifestyle, and the people’s giving hearts. They may not have much but whatever they have they will give to you, simply because, they want to. People I had only just met were so willing to open their homes to me, for tea, cake, a chat, a tour of their garden, that day! There was no let’s schedule a day next week, it was, “Are you hungry, can I make you some tea?” Friendships were made and grew deeper over steaming cups of milk tea.
Now here in Guatemala I have fallen in love with the colors! Not only the vibrant colors of the plants, chicken busses, houses, and the women’s traditional clothes. But I have become mesmerized by the colors in their smiles, their eyes, and how they love and care for others. I was sitting on the bus one day a few weeks ago and noticed a conversation between a man and two women working at their tortilla stand, and their genuine smiles caught my eyes and fixed my attention. I could see colors shinning from their smiles and eyes, bright sparkly, shiny color! I have never met a culture that just shines with joy like this one. That is what I’ve fallen in love with here.
God has given me the gift of seeing good in every situation, and seeing beauty in the mundane. If you are feeling worn down by the mundane, you just feel overwhelming gloomy and bleak play this prayer,
Lord, open my eyes to see what you see
Break my heart for what breaks your and make my heart leap with joy for what bring you joy
And make my mind malleable to understand what you are trying to teach me today.
Amen
Now look out at your world with new eyes and breath in a new breath, because God will move you just gotta keep looking.
