Hello friends! Hope you are all doing well! Things in Honduras continue to be happy and hot - summer has begun to arrive in full force! Sorry to all those suffering through this horrifically never-ending winter up north! The end is in sight!!
A few random thoughts from Thanksgiving to Christmas that I recently found in my journal:
The other day, I took a quick little nap after lunch, when I woke up to hear Jamie and Omar, two missionaries in our community, discussing about going to minister at San Benito (the hospital run by the Franciscan Friars). Jamie wanted to go, but Omar didn’t have time. I had time…but I wanted to keep sleeping! I determined to fake sleep and let it pass. But then it hit me – this is the reality of choosing between the “kingdom of myself” or the Kingdom of God. Deciding to serve myself, or God and his poor. This is the Kingdom of God. It may be so small and quiet and imperceptible, but this is truly the Kingdom of God! This is the victory that Jesus won for us – the ability to liberate ourselves from our own selfishness and agendas, in order to serve God and to put others first; even when it gets in the way of my plans, my desires, my self.
So I decided to get off my lazy bum and offer to go with Jamie. Such a simple action, but God taught me such an important lesson. His Kingdom may be small and easy to miss (just as He said it would be!), but it is here and it is real! And when we allow it to take root in our heart, it will transform us.
Prayer really works! I had
really been struggling with a particular person that I know. Almost everything that this person did got on my nerves! But I
decided, instead of playing out in my head over and over again exactly what I
wanted to say to this person, I would pray for them. Even though I really didn’t want to, and it cost me a great deal. And
very quickly something amazing happened…our relationship changed! Not
overnight, but pretty rapidly! I was shocked. I’m trying to better understand
where this person is coming from or why they react the way they do. And since
then we’ve had many beautiful encounters. Sometimes we just need to ask in order to receive!
Two of my great friends,
Cheryl and Kari, came down to visit me over Thanksgiving. It was a truly
blessed and super fun time! Both Cheryl and Kari had collected tons of
donations to bring to the mission, many of them for one family in particular.
This was the family of Sergio, an 8 year old handicapped boy that I do physical
therapy with each week. Sergio can’t talk or walk, but you can tell that he
understands some of what you’re saying. His mother and siblings love him very
much. So the day after Thanksgiving we went to Sergio’s house to give them all
of the gifts the girls had collected. It literally felt like Christmas.
We were in this tiny one room cinderblock house, but as Cheryl and Kari gave
out their gifts and the family received them with joy and gratitude, I just felt
like I was back at my own home on Christmas morning. The Kingdom of God strikes again!
After visiting home for
Christmas, I went to Nicaragua to visit friends before heading back to
Honduras. During my entire flight from Atlanta to Managua, there was one single
star right outside my window. I was surprised we couldn’t see more. After all, it
was night and we were above the clouds. Then all of a sudden the cabin lights
when off, and a million brilliant stars popped out. - So often we just need a
change in perspective to see the beautiful realities that are truly there. God, give us
wisdom and clarity to see the beauty that we so often overlook!
Peace friends! Praying for you!
Eric
