My time in Ecuador has come to an end. I never thought I’d say this, but…I miss the jungle. It’s not that I think I won’t like Peru. I know I will. I know that this month is going to be awesome. We just arrived in Trujillo this morning, and I already feel a sense of peace about being here. That all being said, I am so excited for this next month; but Ecuador has found a special place in my heart.
Before I begin my chapter on Peru, I wanted to share a story from my first month on the Race that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Within the last week of being in Huaticocha, our Team Luminous and Team Reckless Pursuit went to visit a community in the mountains called Nueve Esperanza. We had to hike in muddy terrain to get there, in the scorching sun; and once there, we went straight into teaching a Bible lesson to the kids at school, followed by a big game of soccer.
I’m not going to lie—I was tired that day. I hadn’t been sleeping as well as I’m used to, due to the bug bites. The only thing keeping me going was the sheer will of God and the knowledge that there were animal crackers and popcorn to be devoured for lunch. Yes—only animal crackers and popcorn. For 18 people. When lunch time rolled around, Jim (one of our ministry contacts) asked us if we wanted to walk back down the mountain and eat there, or if we wanted to eat at the school. We all knew that if we ate at the school, we would be sharing our lunch with the kids. The tired, selfish part of me, my flesh, wanted to head down the mountain as soon as possible. But the next thing Jim said convicted the ugliest part of me: “It’s less for us, but more for them.” Ugh—it hurt. What kind of person am I?! Some of these kids wouldn’t even get a lunch if we didn’t share ours.
As it turned out, we all agreed to stay up at the school and eat with the kids. And you know what? We had plenty of popcorn and crackers left over. Kind of like when Jesus fed the 5,000—I’m pretty sure He multiplied our lunch, leaving extra to remind us of His provision.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26).
There will be many times on this Race when I will be hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, uncomfortable, unhappy, etc. But I have the hope and reassurance that God is going to take care of every single one of my needs. There are a lot of people in this world who don’t have that same luxury and security. Furthermore, there are people this year who God will provide for through me and my team. Yes, in the moment, it’s less for us and more for them; but our Heavenly Father knows what we need, and He will always provide for His children. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want” (Psalm 23:1).
