Bienviedos! We find ourselves wrapping up our first FULL week in Ecuador. My team is partnering with a local organization called “Camp Hope” that works with children, teens, and adults with special needs. The Lord is already revealing Himself to me in very real ways.
We work with a range of individuals. Those who can do most things on their own, to those who are completely dependent on others to care for them.
The first day, as we were walking through the facility, we were told a humbling fact about the individuals we work with. Most of them have been orphaned and some have even been found in the trash. These individuals have the potential to teach us so much if we give them the time they deserve. I realize we must break down our walls; this is where I find myself.
After ministry, as I was walking home, I had it on my heart to simply give thanks to God for the ability to walk, breathe, talk, think, see, hear, etc. With a smile on my face, this thought crossed my mind:
“It is very easy to give thanks when everything is working properly, but what if that wasn’t the case? Would I still be giving thanks?”
It was a tough question, but I processed it as best as I could.
Less than two hours later, I found myself doing sprints on the street in front of our home. Here, on uneven ground, I stepped into a divot, and I felll face first into the rock and gravel.
Bloody, dirty, and humbled, I finished my last few sprints, and slowly realized my right arm felt very weird.
Long story short, I cleaned up, and shortly after, I am told my muscle has a spasm that isn’t releasing. It hurts.
I can’t straighten or flex my arm at the moment, but I am working through it. I find myself having trouble with the simplest tasks: putting clothes on, eating, and doing things I didn’t think twice about before.
After multiple conversations, I have realized the Lord is speaking to me about perspective and dependence. More so than before, I see the opportunity to learn and gain perspective from those I am working with this month.
I am learning what dependence looks like. I am learning what having a thankful heart looks like – in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances”. Yes, the good and the bad.
It is easy to think this, but often it is hard to apply “thankfulness” during times we may not desire.
Through this temporary pain, I can confidently share the Lord is working on my heart. Still, during this struggle, I want to say, “God is good!”
Sometimes, it takes looking outside of our circumstances, asking the Lord for new perspective – while trusting Him as we let go.
Through these bumps and bruises, I am thankful the Lord is using it to teach me.
He is teaching me to have a more positive perspective. He is reminding me to be more dependent on Him.
He is faithful. He is worthy.
