It is month 3 and we are in Guatemala in the mountains of Alta Verapaz (Coban). When we first arrived we were told we had a 8 to 10 minute walk to the house. 30 minutes later after hiking uphill on muddy, rocky ground with our packs we finally arrived.
Part of our walk. It is beautiful. I think of Pocohantas often!
We got to the home of a pastor, his wife and nine children. As soon as we got there, I ran to the outhouse with no door and no toilet paper. After we got settled, a group of us went to the grocery. We have a 4 eye stove we have been using to make our meals which consist of mostly oatmeal, rice, beans, eggs and vegetables. The family only uses a fire in the “smoke room”. On our first night, I could not express the emotions I was feeling, but I was not sure if I would be able to survive.
"Smoke room" Shower and laundry time!
The Lord has slowly been changing my mind and my heart. The first instance of this was when I saw the new outhouse the pastor and his sons built us closer to our sleeping arrangements full of tents and hammacks in a dirt floor walled building full of noisy rats. When I saw them building this bathroom, I almost cried. It was a job they worked on for a couple of days. It was a job that would not ever be a task that would cross the North American mind. My heart is broken when I see the four girls all under the age of 14 caring for their 2 year old sick brother all day because their parents are busy working. Then all five of them sleep in a twin bed with no mattress, only springs. This life is different.
New Outhouse Where we are sleeping
My mind set of necessities and standards is changing. The Lord spoke a powerful verse to me during our last day in San Vicente, El Salvador. It is Luke 12:29-31,
“And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive for these things, and our Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his Kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.”
I spend much time thinking about meals we need to prepare and clothes I do not want destroyed during the race. This week, my heart and mind has changed drastically in regards to clothing and food. A new mindset has arison, clothing is to keep my warm and food is to keep me alive. That is all, if I lose the clothes I have, fortunately I can get others, if I only get a meal a day, it will most likely keep me alive.
This has brought many other questions. I keep thinking about my understanding of being free and blessed. So many of these people in the village are not physically free to move or do something different with their lives. I personally can so easily connect my physical freedom, my physical possessions to my joy and to my sense of blessedness. These people do not have these physical possessions but exude so much joy and so much thankfulness. I am learning a lot from these people and my heart is changing drastically.
Paul is also teaching me when he writes in Philippians 4:11-12,
“Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.”
There are times where we may life in abundance or with little, neither are bad. God does “bless” people with possessions, but what we do with it I what is important. God cares about our heart. I just pray I will be content whatever I possess and be generous with all that I have keeping my focus on the Kingdom. And I will trust God will take care of me, and He will take care of you!
Thank you for your care and prayers! May we take full advantage of every day we are given, because we do have SOOOOOOOOO much to offer, but make sure you are giving Jesus!
PS. Check out facebook for more pictures and jonathangarner.theworldrace.org for a video made my Jonathan in which I am featured!
