This week on Thursday September 18, 2014 we as a squad all worked together to work at our ministry host site and put together tricycles. We did this because the Mayans had put out a protest within the area which turned into a riot in town and our ministry contact didn’t want us to be involved within the city so we left our daily ministry site to come home incase things got out of hand (Yes, they got me home safely and everyone is okay).
As we arrived back at camp our host needed assistance putting together tricycles for the special needs children/adults in town. So, we started building these tricycles, which, were made with bright colors and the packaging of the trikes just could not be more special because of all the thought, love and care that went into each box. We ended up building adult and child tricycles, coming to a total of 25. So, I did not get to spend much time with the children at my ministry but I was able to spend time with the locals around the compound who saw us making the tricycles. The family’s and friends who were waiting on family members in the hospital all sat outside and watched.
As the squad was finishing this task I was starting to become concerned how we were going to get rid of all the cardboard boxes. Just as I was cleaning up the, what we as Americans would consider, trash and asking what are we going to do with all the remaining boxes of cardboard. I had literally just gotten this out of my mouth… A man pulls up in a truck and ask for all the cardboard boxes that he could fit in his truck. Of course with some help on translation, he fits at least 10 boxes stacked strategically. Each box is large enough that I could fit inside one comfortably curled up and take a nap. Another man comes, and takes two and another man comes with his wife taking four. Then a lady that works at the compound we are living at even ask for a box. We gave away over half the boxes within 15 minutes or less.
Later talking with a girl on my squad (who is fluent in Spanish) I came to find out that the man who had taken as many boxes as possible to fill up the back of his truck was going to be using them for insulation on his home. He is planning on coming back to get the remaining boxes tomorrow.
God and his perfect timing continue to amaze me on this journey. He continues to show me that he has my back and he has my best interst as a top priority. I have to learn to let go of the steering wheel and give God complete control, which if you know me is VERY HARD. When I listen to him, amazing things happen. When I get out of a rush and see what he has set out for each day, it is absolutely breathtaking. The family’s that we ended up helping today was all because they asked and God showed us that we could help. If the task would have been left up to me I would have been finding the biggest dumpster toss them into.
The challenge for my self is to start to do this EVERYDAY! Look for the ways that God provides an opportunity to be able to minister outside of my normal comfort zone and be sure to take the opportunity. Learn to slow down and jump in with both feet trusting that God will use our daily steps as a ministry instead of continuing to have missed opportunities while learning to listen to him more consistently.
