When you’re working abroad you learn MANY things, like new ways to communicate, and to accomplish new things and you try new foods and customs. Sometimes you also learn things aren’t always what they seem.
One of the families we worked for last week taught us a valuable lesson. When we first heard about them it was confusing. Both were dentists and had a slightly bigger plot of land on the “good side” of town. That didn’t settle well with some initially. When you go to serve the less fortunate in 3rd world conditions, you picture rugged conditions. You envision extreme poverty, and slums and families who have NOTHING. You rarely think of two working parents in the medical field!
But, trusting in the Lord we began the work. We quickly learned that things aren’t always what they seem. Turns out a dentist in Mexico isn’t quite the same as in America. Even with two trained medical practitioners, they didn’t have much! This was humbling. And once we met the family, it was VERY clear how wrong our initial human judgments had been!
They were the kindest family. They were incredibly humble, grateful and giving. One day they even provided an amazing lunch for all 30 workers at the site (a gift that undoubtedly set them back). They had two boys who were beautiful and quickly became my best pals. We learned that both had been born very early and ill, and weighed just over 1 pound! The medical expenses had wiped out everything the family had, and as a result they had struggled to catch back up! Once again….very humbling.
As the week went on we came to love them. At the key passing ceremony they gave us the most touching thank you we’d ever experienced. It was a truly blessed experience. We all learned that in God’s grand plans, things aren’t always what they seem! We need to stop trying to see the world through our views and try and catch glimpses of God’s views! God sees what our limited views cannot see, and we can ALWAYS trust in that!
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7
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