Two weeks ago I spent my week in beautiful Puerto Vallarta. I was so lucky to spend a week in the sun, playing in the pool and on boats. I felt like it was an important trip for me to take in preparation for The World Race. I had never really been introduced to the true poverty other countries experience regularly.
As I sat in the sun, on a boat, headed to a beautiful hike outside of Puerto Vallarta I began to examine what my biggest concerns are on a daily basis. My days typically consist of work, money, my car, gas for my car, my phone, social media, working out, eating food that is terrible for me, and doing whatever it is that I would like to do for a hobby that day. It almost repulsed me that I live a life of such convenience while children are working for their families by age 7 in these impoverished countries.
We proceeded to our destination as I pondered these thoughts. We exited the boat and began our hike to the waterfall a couple miles up. We had to travel through a village in extreme poverty in order to reach the waterfall. As i’m looking around i’m realizing that some of these children and animals will not be having dinner if their family does not reach their sales goal from the tourists. There are beaten homes without windows, animals without any sort of muscle or fat, and children that are out of school working in order to help provide for their families.
I started reflecting to the times back in my childhood when we were “tight on money” and realized that even being “poor” in America is still luxury compared to the average country. I have never had to worry about my next meal, I have never had a job in elementary school, I have never had to support my entire family, and I have never had to beg for money or business. Although these were all characteristics of most of the people in these villages, they had something I couldn’t help but desire; an immeasurable faith. These people lacked so much in terms of material items, but they were filled with Joy, filled with family values, filled with love, and generous to the others in their lives.
I can only pray for a Faith so strong that when I have absolutely nothing, I can rejoice, and trust. Anytime I start to stress about the finances, or conditions of this trip I just remember the little children of this village, the children that are truly faithful and have no fear of rejection and suffering because they know where their hope lies. That is the life I desire.
As we return back towards the boat when our hike is finished I sit down on a bench near the water, and take some time to just take all the beauty in. A little girl about 11 comes and sits right next to me, in silence, so close to me that we are touching skin. She says nothing for a few minutes and then touches my jewelry and tells me its beautiful. I look down towards her lap and she is carrying a bag of seashells. Seashells that represent a vacation to me, but to her are livelihood. I bought one beautiful Conch seashell for two american dollars. She never asked me to, she just sat there in silence. After I told her I would take one she began to give me more shells, I told her I didn’t want to buy anymore but she said “No, I want to give them to you.” I look at this little girl and just see a heart that is wholly God’s; a heart that desires to give and desires to love others.
I was so encouraged by the things I was shown on this trip. The people I met and observed, the children so filled with joy in such hard conditions, the fears that were conquered and the comfort I felt while conquering them. I felt such confirmation in the trip coming this October. It is so important to serve those around you, and around this world that are suffering. We have so much ability and so much compared to so many others, and we must use what we are given to spread the light, and make a difference.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
— Proverbs 31:8-9
