It’s about 8 in the morning. We have barely woken up and had our coffee when we hear the beeping of a truck backing up onto the Christian Surfer’s property. Its a noise we have been classically conditioned to dread because it means that we have another 7 hour shoveling day ahead of us. As we walk towards the front of the property we see it, the GIANT pile of dirt. One by one we grab our shovels and get to work.
This has been our ministry for the past 2 weeks. Our ministry host Hannah has given us the task to re-level the property. Before we arrived, Christian Surfers had experienced a lot of flooding because the property slopes to back of the lot and pools near the buildings. So it is our job to relevel the property so the water goes to the front and onto the street. This whole process takes 12 truckloads of dirt. As of today, we have re-leveled the entire property! The first 3 piles we shoveled by hand, each taking about 7 hours to move. Then we got a Bobcat and the last 9 piles of dirt were moved in one day! Since then we have had to build a wall around the dirt and install new water pipes throughout the property. We have been working in the sun for 5-7 hours a day, 4 days a week, for the past two weeks.
I will be honest, I really struggled with my attitude during our shoveling days. I never complained out loud or showed that I was frustrated, but on the inside I was tired, frustrated, and ready to quit. After a couple hours of carrying wheelbarrows of dirt around I begin to surround myself with the thoughts about how I feel I’m not making a difference or how I wish I could be out in Jaco ministering to people. When I began to think this way, I would feel even more exhausted and my work efforts would decrease.
Whenever I start to grumble to myself I remember the story about the Israelities in the desert when they had just escaped from Egypt. I can relate to them because even though God saved them, set them free from slavery, gave them mana and water, they STILL complained. They took for granted what God had done for them and they complained and wanted more. I can fall into this trap easily, especially while doing construction the past two weeks. I will grumble and complain to myself about how hot it is, how tired I am, or the blisters on my hands. However, In those moments, if I take a step back, I realize that there is SO MUCH I should be thankful for. I should be thankful that my friends and family have supported and funded me to go on The World Race. I should be thankful that we have the opportunity to help Christian Surfers improve their property to continue spreading the love of Jesus to Jaco. And, I should be thankful that I’M IN COSTA RICA, one of the most beautiful countries in the world! See, even just pondering on that while writing this blog makes me look forward to the next time I can pick up that shovel.
“Do everything without grumblinng or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” Philippines 2:14-15
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”- Philippians 4: 8-9
What Paul is saying in both of these verses is that we need to do everything with a positive attitude. We need to focus on the good that God is doing. If we do this, we can have peace and we can be a light to other people.
I have experienced the truth of these two verses in these past two weeks. There are times that I catch myself starting to grumble and complain and I make a conscious effort to change my way of thinking. I begin to focus on the positives around me, the opportunities God has given me, and the strength God has given me to complete these tasks. Sometimes, my teammates and I play “the thankful game” where in the midst of a difficult task we say out loud what we are thankful for in that moment. I begin to appreciate the little, but important things, like having cold and clean water to drink, having strength and energy to complete the task, and the occasional cloud cover that cools us all. I felt happier and worked so much harder with my positive attitude. I did all my work with laughter and a smile on my face. I also had the energy to encourage other people around me, so when others were feeling down I could encourage them to keep shoveling and pushing through. It is amazing the strength that God gives you when you rejoice in all that He has given you.
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do ALL THINGS through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4: 12-13
It doesnt matter how difficult the task or how tired you are, God gives you strength to conquer, so we should rejoice in all that He has done for us.
I have a challenge for all of you who are reading my blog. I challenge you to try to have a positive attitude, even in the face of difficulties and challenges. When you find yourself complaining, focus on all the good that God is doing in your life and how God is using you in this moment. There are so many things to be thankful for in our lives, and focusing on these things brightens your mood and encourages you to keep going. God is so good and generous and we should be thanking Him every day for what He has done for us.
So when I go to pick up my shovel tomorrow, I will do it with a happy heart because God gives me strength and I will rejoice in Him and all that He has done.
