Somehow it’s always enough. To feed 14 people, we had four bags of popcorn and some oranges. And our travel was long. But He always gave us enough for the day.
We needed to make it to a village. A village that 2 years before, had no electricity. A village located on the very top of a mountain – in the Amazon jungle. The hike up almost makes a 90 degree angle and there weren’t any steps to help you. One slip on a rock, we would all come tumbling down.
A few hours went by. Completely drenched with sweat and little water left. We made it to the top. (This goes on my list of life accomplishments. Right after my completion of a Bachelors degree.) It was natural to think, when we got up, we would get a break and able to fill up our water bottles. I mean this is before I realized that not everyone had magical stainless steel spouts gushing water on command in every single house/building. Instead about 25 kids excitedly swarmed us begging to play soccer. We were all wearing rain boots… Not exactly soccer shoes. And no clean drinking water in site.
Lunch was the first thing on our mind that day. Filling our appetites and getting what we wanted. I couldn’t think of anything but food and being somewhere else. I was hot, hungry, and tired. Which I don’t think that I’m alone in this. Those 3 ingredients make grumpiness. It goes hand in hand right? If your feeling those 3 things, there is no other option but to be grumpy, right? After a couple hours of soccer and a Bible skit, it was time to eat.
school house where are the kids go to. This is where we did a Bible skit. And played soccer right outside.
Our contact brought out our food; a couple bags of popcorn and oranges. I was finally going to get something I wanted. It wasn’t much but it was enough to be happy. Plus, it was popcorn and I just love that so much.
Soon after I sat down to eat, I heard something off in the distance. “the kids are probably hungry too, lets all share.” This was said by our ministry contact. But let me tell you I’m just so glad I’m more of a reserved quiet person and would never yell out my feelings. In my mind I was exploded. This is the junk running over and over in my head, ” Are you flipping kidding me? there isn’t even enough food for my team. Do they really need food? Can’t they just go hunt and find their own food? We have been out all day. There is already 14 of us now add an extra 25. our ministry contact is a slave driver.”
So now you can add irritated to make it a list of 4. I shared the popcorn without saying anything. The day continued…
I always remember this day. Not because it was the first time I had ever experienced going to bed hungry and not by choice. It is because I realized how selfish and untrusting in The Lord I had become. I couldn’t trust that The Lord would provide what I needed. I wasn’t choosing to be joyful. I wanted to take care of myself before others.
The rest of the day went like this:
After coming down from the mountain we jumped off this really really high, man made, wooden, rickety bridge. Some people faced their fears. Including Christine who couldn’t even swim. After all done swimming and jumping, our contact very nicely told us about the huge bolder right next to where we were jumping and the pythons swimming in the same river. I didn’t see any noticeable snakes but while swimming, Patty cut her knee on a rock and we had to carry her back across the river and of course we didn’t bring our first aid kit. She needed stitches. That’s when we knew it was time to go home. The 14 of us piled in back of the pick up truck for the long bumpy ride back through the winding mountains as the sun set making sure to hold on for dear life. Some of those bumps were big and our driver does not like to drive slow.
the bridge
It was a packed full day but everything worked out. Everyone got enough food. Patty’s knee had a easy recovery. And we made it home alive. This is only the beginning of the journey. The journey of learning completely trust in The Lord and to put others above myself.
