"Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered." 

Proverbs 21:13

The Castillo Family (plus Benjamin and Doc)

My husband and I recently had a discussion over this verse and it's application in our lives.  The timing of this verse could not have been more exact.  We were about to host a family from Venezuela, who was making the long trek to Chile by bus (more like buses...).  The family had been involved with Young Life in Venezuela, but due to the desperate circumstances of their country were making the big move to Chile, where they had prospective job opportunities.  We were their point of contact here in Ecuador.  They left their home in the middle of the night with just a few duffle bags stuffed with their most prized possessions and began their journey.  Ivan and I had been aware of their plans and had been preparing to aid them financially and were just awaiting to hear the exact dates of their travel.  It was yet another opportunity for the Lord to stretch me in the area of hospitality, trust, and loving one another.  We weren't sure how long they would be with us but estimated at least a few days, so they could rest up before continuing on.  We asked our landlord to rent us a suite for them, so they would have some more privacy as a family and took them to the local grocery store so they could pick out things that they like to eat, or items they needed.  As we spent the next several days with this lovely couple and their two teenage boys, I was amazed by their positive attitude and demeanor despite the difficulties they were facing.  The husband shared with us that with the wages of a full days work, one could just barely afford to buy one egg.  That's right.  One egg.  And that's if eggs are even available, because their grocery stores are just rows of empty shelves.  Here we have chickens that provide us with more than enough eggs for my own little family.  I have a small "pantry" of foods stocked up.  My pantry contains more than their supermarkets.    It's truly heart-wrenching to hear first-hand what is happening in their country and the poverty, violence, and corruption that abounds.  Friends, we take so much for granted.

And so this verse about hearing the cry of the poor became very real to us.  On the third day of their visit, Ivan said to me, "I want to make sure that I have a cheerful heart in giving til the end.  That I give the best of me until they get on that next bus.  Whatever that looks like."  Because while we had alotted a financial gift for them, we started to crunch numbers in our minds as they stayed in the suite, knowing how much it would cost per person per night.  We watched the grocery bill add up.  We did lots of laundry.  It's so easy to start to lose the joy in giving with our sinful nature.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is oh so weak.  How quickly we can start to judge and form opinions and think about ME ME ME.  I'm so thankful to have a husband who is generous, who naturally puts others before himself and truly has compassion for others.  We sent them off, on to the next leg of their journey feeling a sense of satisfaction, knowing that we gave the best of ourselves. 

We were reminded that in a few short weeks, we will be on the other end.  We will be the ones asking.  We will be the ones eating in other people's homes.  We will be the ones relying upon the hospitality and generosity of others.  We will be the ones who need their laundry done.  So perhaps these months on end of this reoccuring theme of hospitality that God has been teaching me, is really to prepare me for our trip to the states.  To give me new perspective and appreciation as a guest.  To humble my spirit and gain a deeper understanding of grace.

Our landlord, 'Doc' said he would give us a "deal" for the family staying in the suite, but we didn't really know what that meant.  We prayed that God would touch his heart and allow him to also experience the joy of giving.  When Ivan went to settle the bill, after the family had left, the landlord ended up not charging us anything!  Blessings abound!  Sometimes our own giving can spur others on to give as well.  Maybe you don't have a Venezuelan family knocking on your door, but I encourage you to be sensitive to the needs around you and respond as you are able.  There truly is a joy that bubbles up within you when you give from a cheerful heart.

p.s  If you want to know about a specific way you can love on us or meet some of our needs while we are in the USA send me a quick message.  (I'll give you some hints.... we like to eat food, we need to sleep at night, we need to drive around, and Ivan likes to talk...alot).  ;)

Guess who started crawling!?!

Cousin time :)

Peek-a-boo!