It’s getting close to the end of our time here in Rivas, Nicaragua, so that means I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately. But every time I think about what’s stood out to me the most this month, I think back to our first day of ministry. God opened my eyes the moment we got started here at Bethel Center of Hope.
We arrived Thursday evening, and on Friday morning we were headed to the dump. The dump is exactly what it sounds like: a huge trash yard filled with mounds upon mounds of garbage.
A few families work there every single day, collecting plastic, glass, and cardboard and burning the leftover trash to make room for new loads. Everything they collect is sold for just a few bucks a week. It’s still a little hard to process that this is how people make a living for their entire lives, but this is why people from Bethel come every week. They bring sandwiches and juice for everyone and just get to know these people, loving them and supporting them. The most amazing thing I witnessed at the dump is that these people are so incredibly thankful for the little meal we bring them and even share it with each other. They are so happy and don’t act as if their situation is unfortunate. Even amidst their incredibly harsh working and living conditions, they are so gracious and generous. Simply amazing.
That afternoon was our first time at the feeding center. As the children started trickling in, we saw the majesty of Bethel come alive. Eight-year-old Brian, who just a few hours ago was giving us a tour of the dump, was now greeting us with hugs and running around like a little boy should be able to! Instead of working in the dump, hanging out in their often unsafe home environments, or wandering around with no adult guidance, these kids were playing baseball, tag, and tetherball, learning about Jesus, feeling love from a bunch of crazy adults, and just being kids! I was certainly witnessing God’s majesty before my very eyes. 
Then it was food time. I got to help serve, so I got my spoon ready as the kids lined up from youngest to oldest. That’s when they really got me. Time after time I would fill a kid’s plate with rice and time after time each kid would ask for less. For many of these children, this is their only meal of the day; I was expecting them all to want as much as they could get. But instead, they were so conscious about wasting food that they told me to scoop off their plate whatever they were not confident they could finish. Wow.
I’ve been reflecting on these moments all month. Here I am living among people who work so hard and still have so much less than I’ve ever had, but, while I’ve always seemed to want more, they’re content with less. It makes me think of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Verse 4:13 is pretty well known: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Throughout that whole chapter, Paul is talking about contentment. We are so blessed to have all that God provides for us, and, through Him, we can be content no matter what our circumstances may be! The people I meet on this Race are teaching me what that really means.
Recently I heard a new song called “Unstoppable Love” by Jesus Culture & Kim Walker-Smith. She sings about how God gives us everything we could ever need, how His perfect love is poured into us, and how He’s more than enough. So why do we always seem to want more? For me, I think it’s because I’ve valued so many things “of this world” more than I’ve valued my very Creator. It’s about time I change that.
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:20-21
Where is your treasure?
