Relationships

This past week a team from Bellpre, Ohio was here with us.  We worked in a small community about a half hour from the mission site called Chaquiquiche (cha-key-key-chay). 

For 4 days we worked side by side with the community to build a church sanctuary.  No, we didn’t finish, but was never our goal.  We were there to build relationships:  relationships between the pastor and the community; between the members of the church and the unsaved in the village; between the community and the Lord; between the people of Chaquiquiche and the Bellpre team. 

On our last day, we were invited to have lunch at the pastor’s house.  He, his wife and their 10 children were there to share with us what it meant to them that we came and helped.  The pastor’s wife told us through her tears that her husband had been feeling very alone in the work in Chaquiquiche, and then when we came, and he knew the Lord had remembered him.  What a humbling thing to hear.  That God would choose to use us to bring His blessing to a faithful servant.  Amazing!

When we drove out of the community for the last time, there were many tears and many hugs – both from the team and from the beautiful people of Chaquiquiche.  We did more than lay block, pour concrete and do children’s ministry; we built friendships; relationships with eternal value. 

And that, really, is what the Kingdom is all about…relationships.  Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to participate in your Kingdom building.  We are honoured and humbled.