Sacrifice

I am all too often under the impression that I am making sacrifices.  The other night I was set straight by a women and her family who represented true sacrifice.

Saundra, one of the workers at Casa de Esperanza, invited us out to her village.  Two of her six children were being baptized at a tiny Catholic church.  I was excited to support her and her family because she has always been kind to me.  But the service was so long, and some of that excitement faded.  But a few hours later the ceremony had concluded.  We walked back across the dirt road and over to Saundra’s house.  It was a typical Honduran house; dirt floor, few rooms, and very small.  But, she had managed o make room at the table for our group of just over ten.  She had insisted on making s dinner.  I figured it was an insult if we did not accept.  Not a single member of the family sat around the table.  They made sure we were all well accommodated long before they rested their feet.  Saundra prepared beef, rice, salad, and potato.  As I was eating the delicious meal, I noticed her family was eating significantly smaller portions.  Is hurt me to think that they didn’t have the money to be providing so much food.  But, their sacrifice embodied the love of Christ. 

She reminded me of the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume. 

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked.”

            -Matthew 26:6-8-

I tend to misunderstand true sacrifice.  To be served by those who have so little is a blessing from God.

The Stresses of Human Philosophy

As a human, my mindset has limitations.  I wish it weren’t so.  I worry and stress over few things in life.  I am a very laid back individual.  I would like to say it is because I put all my trust in God, but that is untrue.  The truth is I am flawed.  But when I do stress it is usually fairly serious.  The truth is my human tendencies are getting the better of me right now.  In this leadership role for our upcoming missions trip, the responsibilities seem endless.  But that’s not what has me worried.  We need to raise close $30,000 among 24 of us to make the quota for the trip.  Currently we are $6,000 short.  I thought if we just raise $2,400 for the two houses we could have less the team needed to come up with.  Then I could have some more breathing room.  Our missions team arrives one week from today, December 12^th.  It seems like such a small portion of the money, but we have so little time.

 

I would like to sit and worry about the money, loathe myself for being an incapable leader.  I could keep using “I, me, and we.” But I realize it’s not about me or even the team.  I am failing, again, to attribute to God what is his.  This trip is his and he knows how the money will get here and when.   I need look no further than the title of my blog site, but his word always puts it best.

 

 

-“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”-  Deuteronomy 7:9

 

Please keep our team in your prayers.  We serve a faithful God indeed.

 

If you would like to know more about the trip details, you can contact me at mrwallace4@gmail.com.  I will be attempting to blog throughout the trip as well.

Kindergarten Graduation

Because of a late arrival I did not get to see the kids that night.  But I was awoken by the sweet sound of thirteen angels singing out of tune.  It was about 6:30 am, but I didn’t mind too much because I knew I could participate in naptime later that afternoon.  But the real event was not my arrival but the joy of kindergarten graduation. 

            The reunion that morning was great but short lived as the other children went to visitation day in the city.  I was left behind to play with the kindergarteners before their big day.  We got dressed up and hiked over to the little room schoolhouse.  The place was crowded with the children and their parents.  There were directors and presidents of things I did not understand.  The mayor of Santa Ana was even there.  This was a big deal and I got to be a part of it. 

            Monica, Fernando, and Daniela were all graduating. Monica was happy to be there.  But it was her 2^nd or 3^rd year in kindergarten.  She was born with some mental incapability and she was finally passing, making us all proud.  Fernando’s face beamed all day long with pride.  It was so cute to see him walk up to the front and get his diploma.  His walk personified his fulfillment as he bounced with each step.  Daniela was quiet and almost bashful as we praised her.  She didn’t seem to glory in the attention as much as the other kids.  But her beautiful smile came out now and then.  You could see her joy and sense of accomplishment.  After the big ceremony, we sat outside in the warm sun and enjoyed lunch and company.  The kids were playing with their balloons, which they loved.

            I was proud of these kids like they were my own.  I was delighted to fill in as their Papi.