The extent people have gone these past eight days to accommodate each other and make others comfortable is absolutely amazing. Watching people in this amazing country and being around a fantastic team has truly been such a blessing and I’ve learned so much by being around everyone. Every single person will go all out in everything they do, from Becca trying to get Jamin to sing “You’re Welcome” and adamantly avoiding porta pottys at training camp to digging ditches and moving trash around. No matter what the task is, everyone is so quick to show Christ-like love towards each other in acts of unselfishness.
It’s truly breathtaking to see just how far people will go for each other. Yesterday, we had a draining and very dirty day and all anyone wanted to do when we got back to the base was shower. But they had run out of water which summarized means- no showers. We were told not to get our hopes up and the chances of the base having water when we returned were very slim. And yet when we arrived, we were told that we would be able to shower. Why? Because the people from YWAM had bought water for us. But it doesn’t stop there, worship here consists of singing in two languages which is so beautiful but also confusing at times. Josie, one of the members of the discipleship program here at the base and a worship leader asked team members and I which way of singing worship songs was the least confusing and would help us the most. And on top of that, he decided that we would sing songs that the team had been singing prior that day to assure that we would be able to sing as well.
Here’s the part where I get to talk about dirty dishes, one of the rules at the base is that you have to wash your dishes once you finish a meal. However, in the week or so that we’ve been in El Salvador, I’ve maaaybe had to do my dishes four times. Every breakfast and dinner (we generally don’t eat lunch at the base) someone will come around and grab everyone’s dishes and cups and wash them for us. Now parents, we’ve talked it over and the chances of this happening at home is slim (sorry), but this act of extreme unselfishness is just such a huge testament to everyone’s hearts. And it doesn’t stop there, the list goes on and on. Sharing shampoo, sharing clothes, getting water for each other when the bed is just too comfy, sharing food with other team members and kids, offering to do the hard jobs, “volunteering” to be a sacrifice and getting pushed in the pool, it just keeps going.
This team and many of the people in El Salvador have shown so much love and Christ-likeness throughout this “short” week and a day. The thought of leaving everyone leaves me heartbroken, and yet I’m so incredibly excited to see what God will do through everyone on our return. “Unselfishness” has been redefined for me because of this team and I can’t wait to hear how they’re able to impact others with their beautiful, selfless hearts. But until then, here’s to fighting over dirty dishes.
