This month we were here to teach English at a couple orphanages and attend church with or hosts! We had an incredible time doing this, but evangelizing was not part of our set up this month… and to be honest the word evangelize used to freak me out. I had no idea what it consisted of while entering the mission field, and the title made it sound so much more intimidating than it is! Now when I hear the word evangelize I instantly think of it as an opportunity to live life with the community and build relationships! This has become something I absolutely LOVE!
Thankfully my teammate Christa also loves to adventure and find new people to talk to, new things to learn. Although evangelizing wasn’t on or to do list this month, living life with your community is never a “task” to take on and we always just happen to stumble upon it!
While it for a walk, Christa made friends with a sweet older lady in the village. She spent time with her under her tree, and went back on multiple occasions to say hello. I was lucky enough to tag along on these visits and also spend time with this family. Although communication was hard, a little charades and broken translation were able to help! She was invited to have lunch on Sunday, and our whole team was invited!! I was stoked. We offered to come over and help, but was instantly shot down and old to just show up. When we got there on Sunday we were ushered in, feet washed of the mud from the walk and seated on the floor around a beautiful spread of traditional Burmese food. Not too sure what we were eating, but it wasn’t bad and the hospitality was so sweet.
We thought we would be eating with our new friend, but instead her as well as about 20 other women from the village circles around us and watched us intently eat the plethora of dishes brought out to our table. I am always up for trying new food, but not always the most gracious when I don’t like something.. thank goodness no faces were made upon trying the fish soup and I was able to hold it all together!!! This women’s home was small, but had a wooden cabin feel.. we were spoiled from the moment we sat down. Lunch, fruit and tea! Upon finishing our meal, we were brought to the bathroom and had a Burmese lesson! Before departure We were asked to come back the following week for brunch!!
On our last day in our village we attended our final brunch. We were brought to the neighbors home a couple doors down and we had a group of women waiting for our arrival. Again we were blessed with way to much food, deserts and tea! We got to play with their kittens, baby and karaoke machine!!!! Man were we thoroughly enjoying our time. They sang, danced and attended our every need! For women who come from little to nothing, they go above and beyond to provide ya with everything they have! Chloe was touched and reminded of the widow who gave 2 cents to the offering in Mark 12: 41-44
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
These women don’t follow Jesus like we do, they don’t understand why we do what we do… but they sure do live like Him. I feel so blessed and honored to be able to have not one but two incredible experiences at lunch with my Valor ladies and the people of this community. We left that village so filled [ literally and spiritually ] please take a moment to watch a quick video recapping our incredible experience!!
