I have been home for almost two weeks and have not said or written much about our recent trip to Guatemala. 30 people from 3 provinces, several denominations, and from various backgrounds spent 9 days in the beautiful, though sometimes brutal countryside. Surrounded by 7 volcanoes, we spent a few days trying to minister to those who may have more to offer us than we have to offer to them.
Let me share one incident with you that hit all of us quite hard. We were dedicating one of the three homes we built. After the prayer, the lady who we built the house for said... Thank you for this beautiful mansion."
You could have knocked us all over with a feather. What we built was a 10 foot by 16 foot cement structure with a tin roof supported by rough 2 by 5 or 2 by 6 lumber. No paint, no windows, no doors, just a space sheltered somewhat from the sun and rain. A space she could call her home and which we would only use for a shed.
I think this is her mansion.
And I think this may have been her old home...
The simplicity and the joy expressed to us by this lady shames us greatly. We, who have so much, are so often ungrateful, disrespectful, unsatisfied. We complain about our lot in life. We moan about our problems and challenges. I think I am going to try to be more thankful and celebrate the many blessings I enjoy as a matter of routine, almost every day.
