Hola from El Salvador!
Our first three days in Central America have been filled to the brim with joy and thanksgiving.
Many people described how the hospitality in this part of the world is rich and unparalleled and I can easily see why. From the minute our host, Pastor Aldo, picked the team up from the airport, he and his family have been nothing short of amazing to us.
From the daily fresh pupusas made by Hermana Sonja (Pastor Aldo’s mother, also known as Abuela around here) to the endearing concern and precaution taken for our safety, we already feel settled and cared for in this place. The people we’ve had the opportunity to serve alongside daily have gone to great lengths to welcome us, accommodate our needs, and build relationships with us.
This has brought me to a place of thankfulness, but also a place of subtle guilt. After all, we’re here to serve our hosts and their community, right?
I’ve been so thrown off by their generous hospitality that I almost found it hard to receive without feeling guilty, but the Lord reminded me how this is a two-way street.
He brought me to Leviticus 19:33-34:
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
This is how God has called our Salvadorian friends (and each of us) to live. I must say, these people are a mighty fine way for Jesus to display His love for us on the first days of the race.
Now we are tasked with the hefty challenge of blessing our hosts as much as they bless us through ministry, intersession, and fellowship. The best part: my desire to bear their burdens this month comes from a place of love rather than guilt. Tonight I’m thanking the Lord for this beautiful budding relationship of love and service with our brothers and sisters here at Iglesia Cristiana Timoteo.
With love,
McKenzie
P.S. I’m still vlogging the race! Please bear with me as our wifi is pretty slow and uploading videos takes a lot longer than it would in America. I have a launch vlog coming soon, so I apologize that things are out of order.
P.S.S. I’m still raising support to be fully funded for the World Race. If you’ve been thinking about supporting me, this is the perfect time to do it! Thank you so much for the prayers and support. 🙂
