El Chonco has water!

This photo was taken in the community of El Chonco the day after Thanksgiving. A community that has never had running water now does. 


We stood at the school in on Friday morning as we waiting to turn on the water fountain as a celebration.  Most of what was running through my mind was being there, 2 months ago, digging the trench for the pipe that went to this very water fountain.  I pictured all of the people that have come to help us with this project over the last 2 years.  Every inch of pipe was necessary to see water come out of that water fountain.  If you were here sweating and laboring with us this summer, take joy in that.  Children all over El Chonco took a bath this morning before school.  Wow.  I wish there was something more profound to say other than "El Chonco has running water".  I'll leave it at that. 

 Luis, our director of projects, turning on the water fountain at the school. 

The Scenic Route

As a kid, I remember hearing about the Israelites long journey through the desert on the way to the promised land.  What was expected to be a direct route, turned into God leading them through the desert for 40 years. 
I'll venture to say that not a single person in the whole crowd anticipated their journey to take as long as it did.  


God promises us things through His word that seem hard to remember in the grind of life.  He will finish the work he started (Phil 1:6).  Through all you see and do, He has your best in mind (Rom 8:28).  That's just hard for me to believe sometimes. I can imagine that the Israelites had trouble believing that they were truly on their way to a wonderful place at about the end of year 1 in the desert.  Little did they know, God would be molding and shaping them for the next 39!


I recently read these verses in Exodus 13


¹⁷ When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸ So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. 


...and that about sums it up.  God knows what we need. 


If we skipped right into the future God has for us, we might make some mistakes. Instead, there are things he wants to teach us and ways he wants to build us up in maturity right now so that we can handle future events the way Jesus would. 


If a flower bloomed in the middle of winter, it would shrivel up and die.  It waits for the warm and crisp air of spring to finally take it's shape and flourish. 


Father, You've got our best in mind and You're molding and shaping us right where we're at to prepare us for what's next.  Help us to submit to the road you've got us on. 


Amen.

Thanksgiving Day Celebration.

Water is going to be turned on in El Chonco on Thanksgiving Day!

It has been a long time coming for everyone here, especially for the patient residents of El Chonco. They have worked every week for 2 years prepping and getting this water system fully ready.  

John will be coming down with his whole family to celebrate his 50th birthday that week as well. He doesn't know but all the guys are cutting our beards into goatee's for him (Nicaraguans too). 

Share some encouraging words today. YOU can speak life into someone today. Break through the awkwardness and fight the last second burst of apathy as you approach that person to tell them how wonderful they are.  Seriously, those thoughts you have been thinking in your head about how great a person is or how well they do something might change the course of their day if you just speak it to them. 

Carry hope with you wherever you go. We have a reason to be joyful today. Spread it around. 

Romans 12:10

    Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each     other.