It’s been hard I’m not going to lie. On Thursday’s, Pan de Vida (the place we’re doing most of our ministry) has a food program for Venezuela’s refugees. (Look up the problems occurring currently in Venezuela) I prayed that morning to help me see people through God’s eyes. The children get to hear about Jesus on their level. They had lawyers come to help them with all the legalities of being a refugee in a foreign country. Then they have a sermon and given food for dinner and one to take home. However home is not home. They’ve had to flee their homes due to political turmoil there. Home is now the street in an unfamiliar country. As we were cooking the food the chef told us to take our time and make the food really good because this might the first time they’ve eaten in days, and probably the last for another couple days. Wow. That’s so hard to take in. The program came to a close. As the children left they cried. This was the first time in a long time that they had stability, a roof, full bellies, and a group of volunteers who wanted to love them and fight for them. As my sweet friend Rebecca said “we chose to leave home and be uncomfortable. They didn’t have a choice.” The day weighed heavy on my heart. I was overcome with immense grief and love. I wanted to do more. Was what I was doing enough? The simple answer is no I am not enough. I’m not supposed to be enough. Jesus is. All I can simply do is be present and love them. Our tribe cried together, worshiped together, & encouraged each other. We all felt helpless. One of our tribe leaders, Britt, challenged us. We aren’t here in Ecuador on accident. There is purpose to this. A purpose for this experience, for these not so fun feelings, for it all. So what am I going to do with it? How am I going to use it when I get home? I’m not sure yet but I am sure that this will not be wasted. Then Britt explained that this is a huge perspective change. Perspective change. That sounded so familiar. On May 20th I was at a gas station at home. I was thinking about the trip and praying. I felt the Lord whisper perspective change. I was like well that weird and I looked down and there were glasses on the ground all broken and beaten up and I took a picture. My perspective was going to change but at the time I had no idea what that meant. Thursday revealed what that meant. My perspective on my purpose here has changed. My perspective on refugees has changed. My perspective truly on life has changed. God doesn’t always audibly speak clearly to me like that. But when he does holy cow. He’s seriously the coolest. It’s crazy when you give it all (I mean seriously all of it) to God what he’ll do with it. John 3:30
