Thoughts along our journey

We have found a place to live! We are so thankful we have that figured out before we get there. We pray the details with paperwork and moving in continues to go smoothly once we arrive.

As we have been packing all of our stuff and belongings, I started thinking about how we have so many things. So many wonderful things like beautiful decorated picture frames, wall art, nice camping gear and equipment, and an over-abundance of kitchen and cooking appliances and utensils. I realized this because I was thinking about how little so many other people in the world have. My thoughts went back to a mission trip I took to Mexico in 2005. We were in a small town surrounded by a mountain range and we were handing out books of the Gospel of John from the Bible. I remember the only Spanish words I really knew to say were "Un regalo para ti." A gift for you. Children and adults alike were so grateful for these gifts we had to give them. Some even invited us into their homes. These people had so little, but it was their life and the way it always had been and always would be. In the poorer parts of towns the homes were made with mud packed walls and homemade roofs of dirt and branches. Most of their homes did not even have doors, but only open doorways with maybe a cloth over it. These families washed all of their clothes by hand and hung them out to dry. And here I've been worried that I might not have a washer and dryer inside our new place in Colorado and I may have to walk to a laundry facility to throw them into a washer and wait for them to finish and then throw them in the dryer and wait again.

I read a book recently that was written by the founder of an organization called Gospel for Asia. It was filled with stories of children who live in India. These stories are eye-opening and heartbreaking to hear about the suffering of small children. Some of these children wear the same clothes every day. It is great to read about the difference one group is making in the lives of these children by taking them off the streets and providing them with safety, education, clothes, food, and hygiene care. These children are being given hope and joy.

It is easy for me to start wishing I had something and being in a state of wanting. I am filled with gratefulness for all we are blessed to have. We are so thankful for a place to live once we arrive in Colorado Springs, and for friends who are excited to welcome us there. I hope this move is not just a move to another state but an experience that we'll grow and learn through as part of our journey that God is leading us on.