After each trip to Honduras I return with my heart full of the stories of how God is working in the world and in the lives of His people. This year our group was so blessed, with good health, with unity and with success in the projects we had planned. But as I've reflected on this year's trip, one lesson keeps coming to mind. Elvin Espinal is the preacher for the church in Renacer Marcovia, where our construction crew worked the first part of the week and where we worshiped on Wednesday night. His wife, Mari, is the director of the Mission Lazarus kindergarten in the village of Limón. One night while eating fish at the beach Mari was telling us about the kindergarten. She shared two stories that have touched me deeply in their similarity.
The first was about serving chicken to the children. While the kindergartens feed the children breakfast and lunch, the usual fare is rice and beans with eggs, cheese and tortillas. For many of the children, this food is all they will have during the day. One day, because of a special gift, the cooks made chicken for lunch. Mari told us that several of the children were afraid to eat it. They weren't afraid because of the way it was cooked or because they didn't like chicken; they were afraid because it was new to them.
They had never had chicken before because their families are too poor to buy any kind of meat. Mari and the teachers talked to the children and encouraged them to try it. They talked about how good it tastes and about how nutritious it is. The children did try the chicken, and discovered they liked it very much. Mari told us that now they are requesting chicken and are very excited whenever it can be served.
The second story was the story of Arturo, a little 4 year old boy who came to the school. On the first day he was snarly, angry and would not participate in
activities. He would scream if anyone tried to touch him. He continued like this for several days, but his teacher never gave up. She encouraged him every day, worked with him, praised his good behaviors and loved him. Today Arturo comes to school, hugs his teacher, hugs the other teachers, and participates in learning and playing, singing and praying with the other children.
What keeps coming to me is how similar these stories are, and how much they reflect what God's love does for these children, and for us. I think love can be like chicken. Children who don't know love can respond in fear, just like facing a new and strange food. They don't have any way of knowing they will like it, or how it will change them. God's love was new to Arturo, just like chicken. He didn't know how to respond to either, but with time God's love, made present through his teacher, has conquered the fear. says I John 4:18-19 says “…the one fearing has not been perfected in love. We love HIM because HE first loved us.” When we experience love we soften, become more ourselves and more loving to others. We can't help but respond.
These trips to Honduras change lives, especially those of the travelers. We see new things, try new foods and experience God's love in new and special ways. I think we are like Arturo because we, too, are changed by love. It's simple but profound. God's love…it's a bit like chicken.
Emily Gray
Copyright 2010 West
Chicago Church of Christ |
350 East James Ave, West Chicago, IL 60185 | 630.231.2062
After each trip to Honduras I return with my heart full of the stories of how God is working in the world and in the lives of His people. This year our group was so blessed, with good health, with unity and with success in the projects we had planned. But as I've reflected on this year's trip, one lesson keeps coming to mind. Elvin Espinal is the preacher for the church in Renacer Marcovia, where our construction crew worked the first part of the week and where we worshiped on Wednesday night. His wife, Mari, is the director of the Mission Lazarus kindergarten in the village of Limón. One night while eating fish at the beach Mari was telling us about the kindergarten. She shared two stories that have touched me deeply in their similarity.
They had never had chicken before because their families are too poor to buy any kind of meat. Mari and the teachers talked to the children and encouraged them to try it. They talked about how good it tastes and about how nutritious it is. The children did try the chicken, and discovered they liked it very much. Mari told us that now they are requesting chicken and are very excited whenever it can be served.
What keeps coming to me is how similar these stories are, and how much they reflect what God's love does for these children, and for us. I think love can be like chicken. Children who don't know love can respond in fear, just like facing a new and strange food. They don't have any way of knowing they will like it, or how it will change them. God's love was new to Arturo, just like chicken. He didn't know how to respond to either, but with time God's love, made present through his teacher, has conquered the fear. says I John 4:18-19 says “…the one fearing has not been perfected in love. We love HIM because HE first loved us.” When we experience love we soften, become more ourselves and more loving to others. We can't help but respond.