Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

| by archiveworldraceblogs

 

 I have been told that the average Haitian lives on $2 a day. I think of what I could buy in America with that and I would not get very far. I am no where near “desperate” need for anything. I have been blessed and these are not material possessions I am referring to.

As I went with 2 other teammates and 3 Haitians to the mountains to evangelize, I realized how much my view of God was in need of change.

 (on the way up the mountains)

We talked with one man about Jesus’ love for him and he was quick to tell us how he had to provide for his family. He had work to be done to recover his home and surroundings from the hurricanes. He asked us where we were from and we told him America. He laughed and told us Jesus came down to America and we had everything; our lives were easy. The “stuff” that causes depression, divorces, and suicide in America was all this man saw as important. The “stuff” we have made our lives easy, in his eyes. He couldn’t see Jesus’ gift of freedom living, because all he saw was the “stuff” he didn’t have.

Later we talked with a witch doctor. This witch doctor told us that when he has tried to follow Jesus he doesn’t have money. But when he goes back to worshipping idols he has money to feed his family. He told our translator that if we brought him food, shoes, and plenty of clothes he would accept Jesus. His belief was dependant on “stuff”.

There were two sisters along the road with babies who immediately wanted to know Jesus. We talked with the sisters and a few teenage boys came up to a teammate and I. They wanted our watches and continually asked for them. They continued to follow behind us as we talked with others about Jesus. I was reminded of the story in Acts 3 when Peter tells a beggar “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.” Peter then heals the man and tells him of Jesus’ mighty power and love for him. I told the translator I do not have things to give them but I would like to share with them about Jesus. The young boys walked away.

The father, the witch doctor, and the young boys I saw myself in each of them. “Stuff” has consumed me and skewed my view of God. I looked back on the morning and thought, man God is so much more than all that, God has so much more to offer than a house, clothes, shoes and a $9.99 watch. And then conviction came. So much of my life I have asked God for this to happen, or bargained saying I’ll do this God if you do this. And God has patiently said, “Rocio I have so much more for you.”

 

Are we as Americans missing all that God has for us because our consumer minds seek “stuff”?

“God brought me to the end of my resources, so I could discover His.”

                                    Neil T. Anderson