Dios es Amor

There is a quote by John Bunyan that will always be one of my favorites: “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” This week while doing the things we have been doing for villages, orphanages, and families, it may seem they can never repay us. However, they have done more for me than I could ever do for them. I see strength, love, and courage in them and they bring God to a whole new light by having just a small glimpse into their daily lives.

Today we went to a village called Nahuizalco and God blessed us with an opportunity to build a house for a family of two young boys, the mother, and two grandmothers. Their father had been killed and owed money to others, and that left the mother to do everything on her own. As we prayed over this family before building the home, the grandmothers cried and thanked God for bringing us there. And I thanked Him for the same thing. Being with this family, in this village with these beautiful families and extremely happy children just brought me out of my own world and into theirs. 

Through pouring down rain, insanely heavy walls and floors, getting snatched on barbwire, and sliding around in the mud, the team pushed through with little complaining and with laughter and smiles. Men from the village that weren’t even part of the family we were building for swarmed to help carry the equipment. A translator asked, “In the states, if anyone were to see you doing something like this, would they help without you asking?” Would you stop and help and stranger in your neighborhood or city build a house if they didn't ask you? More than likely, no. And that made me think about so much. God intends for us to love each other as He loved us. To selflessly, abundantly, and unconditionally love one another.

Driving on the way back from the village today I saw a sign saying, “Dios es amor” meaning “God is love.” This beautiful country and the beautiful people in it, with so little have so much love, so much faith, and are so happy and thankful for what they do have. Because even when we don’t have anything else, we have God’s love. And that is more than enough for them. And it is more than enough for me.