This is a story of grace and redemption. This is a story of hope. This is a story of the men who work at REAP and what God is doing in their life.
REAP is a tree farm sitting at the base of Mamacho volcano. It is a beautiful patch of land that stretches for miles. The men who work there are also beautiful. Most come from drug addictions, alcoholism and abusive pasts. These men live in Pantanal, one of the poorest communities in Central America. Jobs are hard to come by and with a past like theirs it is even more difficult. There are around 10 guys who work at REAP and their ages range from 18- 35. All of them know life hits hard and all of them have risen from those struggles. Everyday after work they have a bible study and then they head home for the day. REAP’s focus is to give these guys a chance to create a better story for themselves and their families. Just like God has shown all of us grace and has given us a second chance, these men are also being given a second chance. God is at work in these men and he is taking them through the redemptive process.
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
The week we worked with them was my favorite on the race. These men didn’t know English, we don’t know Spanish. It that did not stop the conversations and laughter from flowing. From Spanish pop songs to gay men, we spent the days talking and digging an irrigation trench that ran to where the mango trees were planted. We ended the week with pizza and said how much we enjoyed the week with them. We talked of becoming Facebook friends and keeping in touch. They prayed for us. We prayed for them. We came in as strangers and left as friends.
Fast forward the the next week, our group was switched to a different side of the property. While 4 girls in my group were walking through the property to get water at a well. We past through the fence and saw a couple teenage guys sitting by the wall. We said hi, threw around a couple phases in Spanish and slid through the fence past them. We walked down the road still talking to each other when I heard someone run up behind us. One of the boys we had passed had grabbed a machete and was demanding our bags. We looked around and the other 2 boys were coming up behind us. They took Brooke and Casie’s purses and my wallet. As soon as it happened both groups took off in different directions we ran until we got the the security guard. Brooke and Rachel stopped and tried to explain what just happened and Casie and I continued running until we got the the REAP farm. The guys in our squad were playing a game of soccer with the workers when we ran up. Out of breath and scared out of our minds, we explained we had just been robbed. That was translated to our new friends and in less then a minute every guy at REAP had grabbed a machete and took off running to where it had happened.
They took care of us. They made sure we were okay. They asked the description of the boys that took our things and went into Pantanal and FOUND them. They didn’t go home but stayed with us an extra 2 hours to make sure we were okay. Through the mess of the police getting our statements and identifying the boys, they didn’t leave.
I will never forget the image of Roddrick and Domingo putting my backpack on my back, zipping it up and locking it. And then both of them spinning me around and giving me giant bear hugs. They protected us, a few white girl “gringas” from people in their own neighborhood. As teenagers this could have been them, caught up in drugs, alcohol, the rush of being rebellious. But God had a better story in mind, one that he is famous for. His overwhelming grace changes lives! It redeems the lives of sinful people like you, me, and Pancho. He is not finished though. Just be encouraged today that the seeds you are sowing, someday will be a harvest, and someone will REAP.
John 4:37 For here the saying hold true, “one sows and another reaps”.
Galatians 6:8 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
