This summer has not been at all what I had thought or planned. Thank God for that! He is constantly blessing me with much greater things and continually shaping my heart and mind through each experience that comes my way. Oh how undeserving I am but how thankful my heart is that God would give me such good gifts. This past week's missions trip to Mexico with my church is one of those good gifts that did a great work in my heart...
Esperanza Viva (living hope) is the name of the orphanage we traveled to in Puebla, Mexico. It houses around 80 children who are either true orphans, have abusive parents, or whose parents cannot take care of them. Northbrook went to help in whatever work projects they had and love on the kids who live there. Traveling with a multi-generational team of 17 meant there was a variety of personality and wisdom to be shared. For some, it was their first missions trip; a fulfillment of a long past dream. For others, it was their second or fifth time, filled with excitement to return once again to be with the children and place they fell in love with. For me, it was an unexpected trip; a revelation of true living hope and a lesson in true worship to God.
We traveled the bumpy dirt roads, saw pyramid ruins, played with precious little ones, raked, ate lots of tortillas, painted, worshiped with the staff, threw a football around, hid in the shade, raked, had team devos, practiced our Spanish, built and raced pinewood derby cars, and did I mention raking? We did a lot of raking :). The property looked great by the time we left and our hearts were filled with the joy of the children we spent time with. The week went incredibly fast and it seems so short a time but there is no doubting the work Jesus can do in us in but a moment.
As I reflect on some of the things I've thought about and experienced during this time, I am humbled. Humbled by the love and hope that is found in Christ. I cannot begin to write down without crying the horrendous stories that some of the children come to Esperanza Viva with. The brokenness in this world makes my heart ache. Yet the tremendous healing that comes through Jesus Christ is evident in the joy found in the playful smiles, laughter, and trust these children now share. I'm not saying the kids are little angels and every one of them is completely healed; but what I am saying is that this place is filled with a hope I have never experienced before. Hope in Christ as the one who brings healing and redemption to broken people. Hope that we can be made whole again. Hope that is active and living. So I am humbled and encouraged to take hold of this hope as tightly as they do.
Another reflection causes me to think about a heart's devotion to God. During a time with the staff at Esperanza Viva, I observed something I've seen in more than once place in the world. Beautiful, bold, wholehearted expression of pure worship to God. It seems that in the poorest of places, I've seen people cry out to God the most. When you have nothing materially, you are easily aware of your need for dependency on God. I suppose we who are rich in material possession more easily forget God or rather are deceived that we need not depend on God just as much. But everything we have is a gift from Him. Our dependency on Him is just the same. Spiritually, we are all sinners in need of a savior. (No, really. Read that line once again.) Maybe the lack of material possession that puts you at the bottom of the world's social hierarchy helps you realize this spiritual reality quicker. It's true of everyone though and my heart is just recently understanding the depth of its own disgust. And the more I realize the depth of my sin and I see nothing good within me, the greater I am aware of my need for a savior. The more I am aware of that need for a savior, the greater the affect the truth of what Jesus Christ did for me has on my heart. My heart cannot help but cry out to God and worship Him the more I let these things penetrate my soul. Materially rich or not.. we are dependent on God. And so in my material riches I will thank God and reject any entitlement I feel. I will ask God to change my mindset to that of a steward of His goodness instead of the owner of these riches. I will remember who I am without Christ and cling to Him for He is my righteousness. So maybe something that is worth saying at the end of all these things is this- I've believed before that I needed to get rid of all my possessions, or that the American church doesn't truly worship God with all their coffee and lights, but really I'm starting to see that it simply comes down to Christ. Whether you have little or much- Christ is all and in all. And it's up to us and by the grace of God that we just look to Him in all things.
A lot can happen in one week. Praise God!
P.S. I really hate Mexican food and I'm not afraid to admit it!
