January 9, 2019 – Faith

Ukulele club!

Muscles ache, the brain is tired from trying to speak in a different language, and the belly is hungry – but it feels so good to have done a good days work.  We carried 400 blocks from the truck to the second floor.  We finished weeding 3 sides of the building. We built walls.  We taught English.  We conducted afternoon clubs for the students at Amor y Esperanza. And a few of us were (mostly) successful at plastering a wall.  

The ladder that leads to a beautiful view.

In the midst of it all, we partook of God’s beautiful creation.  The ladder to the third floor was a little shaky, but it held each of us as we went up one by one to look together at the views of the volcano and the mountains in the distance from the top of the building. 

I suppose we put our faith in things all the time – we have faith that the car will start and get us where we need to go, that the chair will hold when we sit down, or that our alarm clock will sound to wake us up in the morning.  Today, we put our faith in that ladder.  And looking back, it can serve as a metaphor for our faith in Jesus.

At first, the ladder felt steady.  But about half way up, the ladder would start to shake with each step.  It certainly did not look like a ladder that you would really want to put your faith in.  But one by one, as I watched others ascend and the ladder held secure – my faith grew. 

We can inspire faith in one another by walking out that faith – that trust – in our own lives. Even when my hands could feel the tremble of the wood and my eyes could see the ladder bending under each step, I had faith that it would hold.

When our walk with Jesus is a little shaky – when others see that – it is okay.  In fact, it is good.  When your faith wavers, yet you continue in pursuit of Jesus, not only will your own faith grow – but so will the faith of those around you.  And when you reach the place that the Lord is taking you, there just may be a beautiful view and a time of rest for you there.  

Trust in Him.  Trust in your experience of the Lord.  He will hold fast. 

The volcano Cayambe as seen from the top of the new school

Drama club!

Random things I noticed today:

Mr. Unsicker can fall asleep very quickly on the bus.  (Lots of experience from all the DC trips maybe?)

Chris hates spiders.

The children in Carmen Bajo are so very joyful!