Abundance

Throughout my life, I've been blessed with everything that I "need" and so much more. Whenever I heard about the poverty in other countries, my heart felt sad for them...but that was it. When I heard about the opportunity to serve in Belize, I immediately knew I was called to be there. It was time for me to get out of my little box and experience another part of the world. It was really scary and I really had no idea what to expect. I saw "homes" that were falling over and rotting....but yet, they were lived in. I saw children that were younger than five walking beside the road by themselves. I saw kids that wore the same clothes everyday. I went into a house where a pig, chickens, and roosters walked throughout the dirt floors with free reign. The physical differences were so noticeable and made me really sad at first. I saw other things, too. I found contentment and love at a completely new level. It is still blessing me today. These people didn't have all the "stuff" to get between them and Jesus like we do. The pureness in the prayers of those little children will be in my heart FOREVER. "Jesus, thank you for this food and juice. Thank you for make everything. We love you." Their physical environment is way less than what we consider to be acceptable. They don't have underwear, running water, or indoor toilets. But yet, they have an abundance of things that matter. The light in the eyes of those kids when you just took time to acknowledge them - play a game, do a craft, or just love on them...it was unreal.