Things Are Not Always What They Seem

We arrived at the coffee farm as the darkness was just taking over the day.

I was kind of thinking we would surely just head back down to the city.

We didn't.

Mama Carmen popped out of the suburban and took off down the mountain trail.

Let's backtrack just a minute, shall we?

Remember how I killed my ankle on the first day?  Well.  It was really hurting.  I didn't want to be a total whiner, so I was trying not to talk about it constantly...but it was really hurting.  

And upon leaving for this particular day's adventures, I didn't really have a clear understanding of the fact that I would be walking down a steep mountain trail that would cover 17 acres.

In the dark.

So I just began asking God to help me get through this ridiculous hike without hurting my ankle more seriously.  

If 63 year old Mama Carmen could hike 17 acres in the dark, surely I could, too. 

I had never been to a coffee farm before, but it was really interesting.  We were looking at the beans by the light of my iphone.  

Coffee grows best on the side of a mountain. It was very steep.  There was a beautiful stream at the base of the mountain.  

Well.  I'm sure in the daylight it would have been beautiful.

This is a banana tree.  Or banana plant?  Whichever.  It was really tall.  And the flower on it was amazing.  I didn't know that their flowers were so lovely.

And can we all just take a moment to reflect on the darkness?

We were seriously lighting the path with the flashlight app on my phone.  Here's the tiny bridge we came to and crossed by app light...

Yeah.  Ravine below.

Eventually, we made our way back up the mountain to our vehicle.  Then we walked to the house that is on her property.

It was incredible.

It has not had anyone living in it for sometime, but it could be like the coolest house ever.

The middle of it is an open air courtyard.  Most of the living areas are both inside and outside.  It was phenomenal.

While we were looking, we heard gunfire.

We were trying to not be offensive and scaredy cat gringos, so we began whispering to our kids to hightail it to the car.

As we were stuffing them in the car, I looked at the building across the street--a church of some kind, no less--and told The King I was certain I'd just seen a sniper.

Soon the others joined us in the suburban and we began driving back through the village.

We turned a corner and saw several of the village children in the road playing with firecrackers.

Not exactly the storm of gunfire we'd pictured.

And I felt so silly.

And small. 

And prejudiced and ignorant.

And sad.

We were going to take Mama Carmen and her kids out for dinner, but our translator shared that Mama Carmen still had to go to the grocery store for the next day's food and needed to get back to her home.

We visited with her a bit more as we drove back to the city and soon had arrived at her home.  As she got out of the car, she told us she'd be praying for us.

And I'm pretty sure she meant it.

And it broke my heart.  Because as a friend shared with me upon my return, we may pray for her for what she doesn't have, but she is likely praying for us for what we don't have (or maybe for what we do have?)

Something that our missionary friend shared with us that day has stuck with me.  We were talking with him about his safety and the crime in Guatemala.  He was taking us places (and has & will be taking his family places) that are not safe by our standards.  

His response was basically, "I don't know how I'd ever reach people if I were behind walls. Or keeping my distance.  Or staying away from where they live.  I figure that if I'm helping them and improving their lives then they will protect me.  And if they don't, then that's ok, too."

Isn't that astounding?

I can't stop thinking about it.  

I have used my safety as an excuse to hide.

I think another thing that I learned from the experience with Mama Carmen is this...

She could live in a really, really nice house.  And take her kids with her.  And run the coffee farm to its maximum potential.  And employ people in that village. 

And all that would be good.  Really good.

It would, in many ways, be a "better" life for her and the kids.  

But her calling is in that city.  By the dump.

She doesn't get mired down by the fact that the really nice coffee farm is not being used to it's maximum potential.

She has just waited and trusted.  And now this precious missionary and his family have shown up.  And they are getting the coffee farm running more efficiently.  

That is their calling.

It is such an example of each of us being the hands and feet of Christ and of the church. 

One thing I kept thinking is that we would have had a hard time leaving something on the table.  Meaning, if we had a coffee farm that had been given to us and it wasn't being all that it could be--we'd be nuts.  I'm still processing these thoughts.

I do know that we all have a role to play in some story.  Each of us has a calling.  Our part may be small or it may be the starring role.  It may be a piece that can be filled by anybody willing or it may be so specific that it can only be filled by you.  

What if Mama Carmen hadn't followed through on her promise to take care of these children?  Or what if this missionary chose to use his knowledge of the coffee industry to work for a world famous coffee chain?  Or if this doctor wouldn't have given his time to examine Erma? The list goes on.

God doesn't call us all to move to a third world country.

He doesn't give each of us knowledge about specific fields that can be used to change lives.

He doesn't give each of us the financial means to support ministries both here and abroad.

But He does call some of us to do those things.  

Others He calls to take meals to a sick friend.  Or to babysit for a mom who is in a bind.  Or to take a coat that you no longer need to someone who needs it desperately.  Or invite a family over for a night of fun and laughter because they haven't had much laughter for awhile.

I guess what I'm saying is, we need to seek out ways we can serve someone else.  

And then there's this...Mama Carmen doesn't consider the fact that she is caring for 88 children to be enough.  She is serving her community by providing VBS to the city kids.  She is feeding the hungry at the dump.  She is giving of herself by entertaining selfish Americans for an afternoon. 

This is totally NOT the direction I intended on taking this post.  Not sure where I digressed.  I hope it didn't come off preachy.  I'm thinking it probably came off preachy.

I am just sharing what is on my heart.  

I'm not sure what it all means.  

More on that in the next post.

 

Comments

[Michelle]

Totally NOT preachy; actually encouraging.

I remember when I realized that David and I are called to disciple, not evangelize. I had been feeling really low about how few people I have actually "led to the Lord". Then it hit me: yes, but we have had young couple, after young couple, after young couple into our home week after week, for years, sharing with them HOW to walk in love with each other, HOW to submit one to another, HOW to live on a budget, HOW to effectively parent. It was a very freeing thought, but one I was having trouble accepting. And here you are confirming in me that I am doing MY part of the work of the Kingdom!

I'm going to seriously chew on that "leaving something on the table" part...thank you.

[Paula]

I always want to comment, but I never know what to say. Today is no exception. So I'll just say; thank you for sharing.

[jennifer]

not preachy at all. eye-opening is more like it. i can't imagine experiencing any of it. how on earth do you get back to a normal life when you get back from there? you probably don't. i'm in awww... and feeling so materialistic. what a great adventure... thx for sharing!

(sorry for the rambling thoughts...)

[Tiera]

Not Preachy! Great timing. I read your post right before this one last Friday. It changed my day from feeling kinda sorry for myself and the situation I'm in, (of my own doing), to absolute gratefulness to God for His provision. It turned my frown upside down. Just what I needed to get out of my pity party for one. I eagerly read your posts and continue to pray about La P. I have one of the bracelets that you and your dd made and sent out. Gods' blessings to you and your family as you continue to seek His will for your lives.

[Your mother]

Not preachy. Just very timely and thought provoking. Thanks for sharing your heart,

[Sue B.]

Definitely NOT Preachy.... more like humbling...

[Flowerpot]

I love this series of posts because it takes me to a different place. If you didn't share your experiences, I wouldn't get to process the thoughts and convictions that the Holy Spirit is bringing to my mind and heart. Thank you and keep going! Hugs from my palace to yours!

[Heather]

It has taken me two days to read through this post b/c I just couldn't do it in one sitting b/c of how hard it was hitting me. You do NOT know how much this speaks to me. Unbelievable. It's as if you've crawled into my brain and decided to write this directly to me.

Our pastor had a message a couple of weeks ago about having two tunics: Luke 3:11 "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none..."

And then we started using Francis Chan's Forgotten God in our small group. This after having been very challenged by his Crazy Love book a little over a year ago. LIFE CHANGING STUFF. We (my family) made some changes after Crazy Love, but now I'm still trying to sort out what it all means, what are my "two tunics," what whisper from God I'm supposed to be chasing.

These are inspired words here, my friend: "I do know that we all have a role to play in some story. Each of us has a calling. Our part may be small or it may be the starring role. It may be a piece that can be filled by anybody willing or it may be so specific that it can only be filled by you.
God doesn't call us all to move to a third world country.
He doesn't give each of us knowledge about specific fields that can be used to change lives.
He doesn't give each of us the financial means to support ministries both here and abroad.
But He does call some of us to do those things.
Others He calls to take meals to a sick friend. Or to babysit for a mom who is in a bind. Or to take a coat that you no longer need to someone who needs it desperately. Or invite a family over for a night of fun and laughter because they haven't had much laughter for awhile.
I guess what I'm saying is, we need to seek out ways we can serve someone else."

Thank you for your honesty, for typing what to me was a message from God, and for sharing from your heart.

By the way, this is the absolute LONGEST comment I have EVER left on a blog! :)

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I love this series of posts because it takes me to a different place. I learned something new and different which is very important and beneficial. So I can not resist me to comment here.