Where Have You Seen God Today?

As I mentioned in my previous post, there are many stories and memories that will be shared in the future. Today I am sharing one about a little boy's act of service that touched my heart. Most people who know me, know that along with quality time, acts of service is my main love language. I feel most loved and valued when someone goes out of there way and intentionally serves me. This looks different among different relationships I have yet in general this is how I feel most loved.

Knowing this, let me now introduce you to an 8 year old Guatemalan boy named Ricardo. Ricardo lived in La Reina, the village we built houses for, and was around all four days we were there, playing, talking, laughing... everything about him shined. The first day he was just another kid to me, the second day his affection and joy grew on me, and the third day he was an angel I desperately needed.

On the third day of building we dedicated the four houses we built to the families. The team who built the specific house went inside with the family and listened to the gospel be presented by our dear pastor Hermano Jesus. While this was going on, the rest of our larger team was outside laying hands on the house and praying with great fervor and intensity that the family would recognize the power and love of God and open up their hearts to love and serve God. No matter what the situation this is a spiritually exhausting task. Now add on doing this for an hour each house (4 hours total), in 85 degree weather, and already being physically worn out.

So we get to the first house and begin the process I just mentioned. I was so excited to be a part of such a spiritual movement working through this village yet very apprehensive on how my body was going to tolerate the situation and where my endurance would come from for the next four hours. Nonetheless, I pushed through a half hour praying for the family and my endurance.

Just as I was seriously convinced I would not make it through all four house dedications, my dear little Ricardo came running over to me low and behold with an umbrella. He smiled at me with that beautiful bright smile I miss terribly and with no words popped open the umbrella and held it over me. My first thought was "Where in the world did he get this umbrella?" Knowing that everything they own is tattered, ripped, dirty, or holey, I was completely shocked as to where a perfectly colorful umbrella would have come from. Then my trivial thoughts shifted and changed as Ricardo held the umbrella over my head for the next two hours (until we got to my house) demonstrating Jesus Christ's truly sacrificial love for me.

Time and again I whispered to him saying that he could be done or go play or help someone else. Yet he insisted on staying by my side sacrificing his time, energy, and level of comfort for mine. Even when I tried to give his arm a break he wouldn't let me take it from him and instead would shoot up a beaming smile at me as if he would gladly do this for me as long as I would need.

Friends, I urge you to see the comparison this story has to salvation and what Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son did for you and I. He sacrificed himself so that we may live. So that we may have energy, comfort, and endurance to run this race of life here on earth. No matter what we do, or say, or how much we want control and desire to tell God we can do it for ourselves, He won't let us, just as Ricardo wouldn't let me take 'the pain.' This precious boy taught me more about salvation and holy sacrifice than I had ever learned in a Sunday School class, youth group lesson, or alter call.

Brothers and sisters in Christ... look for Christ everyday. I refuse to think of Ricardo as simply another one of the many Guatemalan kids yet that could have easily happened if I wasn't asked the question later that night, "Where did you see God today?" This is when I truly realized the act of service this little boy loved me with in those hours and the sacrifice resembling Christ that he showed to me.

So now I ask you... "Where have you seen God today?"