Psalm 31:23-24 says, "Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." For the past two weeks we have each been paired off with another teammate and a familoy from our host church. Lacey and I have had the priveledge of being invited into Marvin's home. Marvin is the youth pastor at Mi Re-to. He has a wife named Alejandra and a four year old son named Alejandro. They are also expecting another son due in October. All three (soon to be four) sleep and live in a room comparable to the size of a small dorm room. There is a connecting room about the same size that serves as a kitchen, pantry, and dining room. These two ajoined rooms are connected to a long strip of identical rooms where Marvin's entire family lives. We have eaten dinner with Marvin and his family four times now and I do not think I have ever been so full or so blessed in my life. They have made us traditional Guatemalan meals and desserts as well as taking us out for pizza. Marvin's family freely blesses Lacey and I without even thinking about it.
Last weekend while praying at the garbage dumps, I met a woman named Maria. She kept on telling me that she had faith because God is the one who had given her life. Hearing this woman speak about all that God has done for her and being so generously invited to Marvin's home really challenged me to analyze my own life. I couldn't confidently answer that I would still believe in God's provision if I had to live like Maria did. I also couldn't say that I would have an easy or joyful time preparing a feast not knowing where or when the next time I would eat. I realized that I worry so much about money and possesions withouth having faith or trusting in God who is the ultimate provider. God gives you exactly what you need not what you want. God also places you exactly where you need to be in order to best serve him. He has a plan for each and everyone of us and I know that His plan is better than mine.
