Yesterday, once again, I walked the muddy dirt road in Los Anonos with our friend Luis and his two children. I went up one of the washed out pathways where the sewerage runs and the rains have taken away the places where there was once sure footing. It is very steep and slippery, because of the abundance of rain. I consider it difficult, and when I think of the mothers carrying their children and their groceries, I wonder how they do it.
My sneakers are caked with mud - not much left to this pair of shoes. As I pass by the homes, most of the doors are open. And I hear the sounds of music and children and even angry voices that come from these homes. I’m also thankful that the doors are open. It think that this says something spiritually.
Many of these little tin shacks have dirt floors. And I know that many of the people are concerned if their house will wash away during this rainy season or if the house above them will slide into theirs.
Also during this rainy season, it seems like the use of drugs, alcohol and violence increases. As I look around, and as we’ve come to know some of the people here in Los Anonos, there are those who are not affected by living in poverty, because of their relationship with Christ. Then there are those who are affected by their poverty. This poverty is the lack of knowing God’s love. Many of these turn to desperation, drugs, prostitution, violence, domestic violence, alcohol, etc., much like in the States, but it seems more extreme here.
We know that God’s love is here. It just seems that they have been blinded and their ears are deafened and their minds have been bent towards hopelessness. It can be so depressing at times.
I’m reminded of several verses; Luke 6:35 & 36, where it says “He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (paraphrased).
So we ask for prayer on how to reach the blind, the deaf and the hopeless that are not able to comprehend the love of God and His ability to transform. We ask for prayer to show God’s mercy just as much as we ourselves need it. We also ask for prayer for endurance and perseverance, because at times, seeing so many hopeless victims, it can be overbearing.
Again, I’m reminded of Romans 5:1-11. Worth the read.
We rest in God’s promises. We want to bring glory to the Father. I know that I can speak for Cindy, as well, and Marsha, who lives with us.
I’m reminded of ten years ago, when the planting of the church in Mechanic Falls, Maine, happened. Isaiah 58 and Isaiah 61 were the two chapters of scripture that were given to us to remind us of the kind of church we would be. We are seeing this unfold, more and more, both in Mechanic Falls and here in Los Anonos, Costa Rica.
We want to see the last part of verse three of Isaiah 61 more and more. It says that “the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified.” We know that God is the one who does the planting and in this He is glorified.
I leave my muddy shoes outside by the doorway for another day, for another walk into the community of Anonos, where God has brought us for this time in our lives.