A couple of months ago, I had the amazing opportunity to go to the Amazon jungles of Brazil and hang out with some friends of mine who are missionaries on the river. It was a wonderful time, full of fellowship and fun. Though I have tons of great memories from the trip, one moment in particular has stuck with me.
I went with one of my missionary friends I was staying with to visit a nearby village. Afterwards, we came back to the village where he and his wife lived, and since it was a particularly hot afternoon, I decided to take a quick jump into the river. After my little swim, I got out of the river, onto the dock, and headed up to the house. As I climbed ashore, I got mud all over my feet. Now, the mud there is a little different than it is here. The mud here is more water than dirt, so it washes off quite easily, but the mud there is just wet clay. It sticks to you, it’s slimy, and it’s just downright nasty. Of course, I had this mud all over my feet, so I waited outside the house so as not to get everything inside dirty. All I needed was a towel to dry off, and I could take care of the mud myself with a bucket of water. Instead, my friend grabbed the hose and started washing my feet himself. I don’t mean that he just held the hose and I rinsed my feet under the water. No, he got down on his knees and washed my disgusting, slimy, ant-bitten, blistered feet. He didn’t have to, but he did. I was perfectly capable of doing it myself, but he served me. It wasn’t just an act of service, though. It was a display of love. Love is service. It’s sacrificing your own comfort and preferences for others. By simply washing my feet, my friend was showing that he loved me. Jesus of all people washed his own disciples’ feet. In a world that tells us that we’re the most important, and encourages selfishness, I’m encouraging you to be selfless. I’m encouraging you to serve, to love, and to sacrifice your comfort for others. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing, either. Sometimes, it can be as simple as washing feet.
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Hey guys! I didn't write my usual two posts a month last month because I was actually out of the country. I was on a mission trip for two weeks, smack-dab in the middle of the Amazon jungle! I had already been to Brazil last year in June with a team, but this time it was just me and my friend Rebekah. In June, we were visiting two villages a day, providing medical care and a vacation Bible school program. The rest of the time, we were traveling down the river on a big boat, where we ate all our meals and slept in hammocks on the top deck. But this time, I wasn't on a boat with a group. I was with my friends who are missionaries stationed in a village on the Uraria river. I stayed in their house, helped them with little jobs around the village, and went along with them whenever we had church services in any of the surrounding villages. It was an amazing experience that I'll never forget. Below is a slideshow of my trip. Enjoy!
I have always wanted to do something big for God. My family has been involved with a group of missionaries working the Amazon River. My parents have been on countless mission trips to Brazil, and this year, I was old enough to join them. Throughout my life, it had always sounded so exciting to go to a different country and proclaim His word, but when the time came for me to go, I was scared. I was comfortable with my life, and I didn't want to leave. The trip seemed daunting, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I had yearned my whole life for this moment, but when the time came, I shied away from it.
Thankfully, I decided to go, though I was still unsure. I look back and see that I was scared of the hard work God wanted me to do. But as soon as the work had begun, I was in love. The children were so joyful and beautiful. My new friends on the trip were hilarious, and so encouraging. The language was so beautiful, and as soon as I got home, I booted up my old Rosetta Stone Portuguese program. I was determined that the next time I went, I would be able to speak to the children fluently. God changed my heart in Brazil. I no longer fear sweat. I'm not scared of getting my hands dirty. Because if it's for Him, it's worth it. I was free on the river. I had experienced something I hadn't known before: True happiness. I wasn't truly happy back in America. I was just comfortable. But when I was with God, no matter how sticky, dirty, and muggy the conditions were, I was happy. Once you get out of your comfort zone for Him, everything falls into place. On that trip, I learned a very important lesson: God is the only way to be truly happy. |
AuthorHi, I'm Abigail! Welcome to my blog. Hope you enjoy! Archives
August 2018
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