New Wilmington Mission Conference

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2007 Summer Service (Guatemala)

Juana's House

On Wednesday we took a day off from working in the chicken coups. We went to a seminar that talked about the production of biodisel fuel. I found it pretty interesting but I'm not so sure it resonated with many of the Guatemalans in attendance. After that we went to stay at a families house. This family had hosted David, our in-country coordinator, for a while when he first moved here. David brought us there to meet the family but more imortantly it was one of the childrens' birthdays. Juana and her eight children live in a house that David helped build. Their old house was a shack across the courtyard that they now use as a make-shift kitchen. The birthday girl, Mariela, quickly found a companion in Aaron.They started playing tag and whenever he would get tired and sit down she would taunt him till he got up again to chase her. Everyone played with the kids until dinner time and after dinner we got ready for bed. It was then that I realized the entire family was giving up their beds for us. They were all going to cram into the kitchen to sleep on the floor (including the birthday girl). I had a hard time swallowing this kind of hospitality and selflessness. An entire family gave up their beds for a group of complete strangers after they took all day to prepare food for us. This was the most literal display of Philippians 2:3-4 that i have ever encountered. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regaurd others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others." I have been seeing Jesus in so many of the people we meet. This is just one example. I can't wait to share more with everyone when we get back.
Published Friday, June 29, 2007 9:07 PM by reneel

Comments

 

Andrew Dawson said:

As a Summer Service alumn(?), it's great to see your experience impacting you like this Renee.  I'm not sure anything is as humbling or potentially life-changing as people with little giving so much to those of us who don't really deserve it.  Thanks for sharing.

Andrew

June 30, 2007 1:27 AM
 

Michael Ludwig said:

You can see a picture of the Birthday girl and Aaron in the photo section: http://nwmcmission.org/photos/summer_service_2007_guatemala/picture2134.aspx

July 2, 2007 6:03 PM
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