Here is a link to the Los Pinos blog:
http://wccnicblog.blogspot.com
Here is her Email-
Hi Jeff,I wanted to share some thoughts with you.
I have been reading the Los Pinõs blog and thinking about how the people there live. Last night I was lying on my bedroom floor thinking the bed was kind of hard. (I'm getting old.). And then I thought about the fact that I had a wood floor with carpet padding and carpet. The people in Los Pinõs have mud floors, as I understand. Then I thought about how I have a/c and heating and no bugs and no rain to deal with inside. Not true in Los Pinõs. Then, and this is the one that really gets me, I looked under my bed. I saw my dog all stretched out on her fluffy dog pillow, and it occurred to me that my dog is living so much more comfortably than those people. My DOG is living better than them!!!! Wow! It makes me feel guilty for thinking I ever wanted more. What a blessing and upgrade the new housing is going to be for the village. I was thrilled to read they will be getting water in their new houses! This is a great mission! So glad to be a part of it.
She continued later........what of plumbing and cooking and laundry! And my bedroom is larger than the homes that they live in. We are so blessed.
Yes dear friends, we are blessed. And I don't want you to feel guilty, but I do want each of you to understand that we are stewards, not owners. God has given us these blessings so that we can do his work. Thank you for all the ways that you have generously engaged in the work of the Lord.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
2 comments:
Thanks for the post Jeff! It raises a topic we talked about in Sunday School today and in the attached ariticle that Marilyn McSpadden passed on. The topic is 'blessings' and the article "The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying". So, the author writes (expanding on what you wrote), after sharing Jesus' definition of "blessing" in Mat 5:1-12:
The truth is, I have no idea why I was born where I was or why I have the opportunity I have. It's beyond comprehension. But I certainly don't believe God has chosen me above others because of the veracity of my prayers or the depth of my faith. Still, if I take advantage of the opportunities set before me, a comfortable life may come my way. It's not guaranteed. But if it does happen, I don't believe Jesus will call me blessed.
He will call me "burdened."
He will ask,
"What will you do with it?"
"Will you use it for yourself?"
"Will you use it to help?"
"Will you hold it close for comfort?"
"Will you share it?"
So many hard choices. So few easy answers.
So my prayer today is that I understand my true blessing. It's not my house. Or my job. Or my standard of living.
No.
My blessing is this. I know a God who gives hope to the hopeless. I know a God who loves the unlovable. I know a God who comforts the sorrowful. And I know a God who has planted this same power within me. Within all of us.
And for this blessing, may our response always be,
"Use me."
The article can be found on: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-dannemiller/christians-should-stop-saying_b_4868963.html
The many comments included point to the fact that this is a debatable topic!
All I know is that I beleive we have been a blessing for the people of Los Pinos, Nicaragua, and that, somewhat surprising, we have been so blessed by them having seen we have much to learn about faith.......as we live out our lives of plenty.
This is so exciting. I love that this ministry is touching the hearts of our Woods Chapel family while bettering the lives of our friends in Los Pinos.
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