We are currently on top of a mountain in Honduras building a church. It’s hard manual labor and we are living out of our tents. Most mornings after we eat breakfast we hike around half a mile to cut down bamboo with machetes and carry it back. Next we eat lunch and dig and dig and dig with pick axes and shovels to level the side of the mountain to build on. Then our days end with a cold shower. Also, I think every critter known to man kind lives alongside us. Snakes, spiders, scorpions you name it.
Honestly, It would be such an easy environment to complain in. My squad is incredible though! They embrace our work days with joy and worship! It’s amazing to be a part of working alongside them.
Anyway, amidst this new environment I found myself reading this passage in Matthew when Jesus is called into the wilderness.
Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
It is one of my favorite Bible stories. I just love the example Jesus gives us of going away to be with God. It just blows my mind that He went with no food or friends and I feel pretty positively that He probably didn’t have a tent to live out of…Its just Him and the Lord. That’s all He needed. The wilderness was not a place of weakness, it was a place of strength. Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to gain the strength to face temptation. He full heartedly trusted the Lord and dove in.
To think that I think my situation is hard…I realize, I’m thankful that we have food to eat, coffee every morning, and that we have a shower at all! I’m thankful to have my teammates and a tent to escape from all the critters at night. I’m am thankful for the physical capability to do this work and be a part of Gods kingdom in this way! I am so thankful to be here with Jesus.
I pray that this time is a time that I can escape into the wilderness and focus on the Lord just like Jesus did. I hope that the Lord uses this season to prepare me for whatever I have to face in the future. And I hope that I can learn to trust that if all I have is the Lord, than that’s all I need.
It is amazing how much the Lord is teaching you and strengthening you! You are making Him smile! Prayers for you and your fellow workers for the Lord! ????????
Our dearest Btw, As I read your article to Grandpa, when I finished he said, “Wow! I feel ashamed…no more complaining for me! Let’s pray for our baby right now!” And so we did. We love you so much and are so proud and BLESSED by your life! You, and your team, are in our hearts and our prayers. God is so so good!????