I know I totally left you without explaining where I was going or when I was returning. Did you feel lost? I see your little visitation numbers on my dashboard, it’s OK. I have returned, alive, well, yet incredibly changed.
I went to Puerto Penasco, Mexico (aka Rocky Point) with my church to the Amor group (www.amor.org) where we built a house for the Gonzales family, a beautiful family of six. I took Monday off because unfortunately in the workforce I did not get that holiday off.
I left for 3 days and I didn’t shower. At all. I used plywood portapotties. Actually, they weren’t even portable, they were plywood potties. I pitched a tent, slept on sand and I helped build a home with my brothers and sisters in Christ and it was amazing!!!
The tent that Betsy and I slept in (it was a 4 person tent):
Some concrete I mixed and my shadow:
Day 1, Betsy already hurt her finger:
Photos from around the neighborhood:
My “tool belt” or as I like to refer to it, my “undercover purse” that had snacks, wet wipes, Kleenex, sharpies and a tape measure.
Who we did it all for:
Gonzales family hand prints in the foundation:
Good morning in Christian “tent city” aka Amor Camp:
Giovanni (one of the children):
Christian (1 year 2 mo):
One of the best group of people I know in front of the new house on day 3 (I am in the front row third person from left):
Before I left, I had a lot of things to pray about. My biggest battle with my flesh is materialism, the need to have the latest and greatest. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not perfect and I’m what’s wrong with this world. It not only is an incredibly empty lifestyle, but it doesn’t honor God with the monetary blessings he has given and entrusted to me. So I selfishly hoped during this trip the Lord would enlighten me, open my eyes and heart to see many, many things. Of course I didn’t go just to learn but to share the gospel and do God’s work, that was definitely the primary goal, but I had prayed for spiritual growth along the way, and that’s exactly what he gave me.
Families live in makeshift plywood homes. The most rickety build tool shed in America most likely provides more shelter and comfort than the homes people in the neighborhood live in. Their exterior doors are actually interior quality doors, they chain and padlock their homes and they have no electricity or plumbing. There’s rarely any crime because there’s nothing to steal. The stray dogs are starving on the streets, and children and other families asked us how they could get a home.
So naturally and quickly, the Louis Vuitton Trevi PM went bye bye in my heart and head along with many, many other things. First there was that feeling of guilt for all the nice things I own. Then AK pointed out that God doesn’t want to make us feel guilty by showing us those different lifestyles, but show us and transform our mind (Romans 12:2) to take what we’ve learned and apply it to our life now. To be smart with money, to not complain if your AC breaks because it means you have an AC, or if your tire pops on the road, because at least you have a car, or if you stay late for work, at least you have a job.
There’s a new found appreciation in my heart and only God could’ve put it there. If you’re interested in a trip, check out www.amor.org.
“‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” – Matt 25:30
xo
