Love Looses the Parasite
Part 1
Sometimes, we are unknowingly used by God to answer prayers. And sometimes we have the great privilege of knowing. Volunteering with SunWest Church and Shelter in El Salvador to provide homes for families offered such a privilege.
Last Novemenber, when we arrived in El Salvador, anxiety sipped at my heart like a tiny parasite. How could I, a vulgar introvert, show the love of Jesus? The night before meeting the familes, Jake, our leader, posed the question, ”What would the love of Jesus look like?” With this question on my heart and mind, the parasite was loosened.
The next day, we went to meet the families at a community gathering place. I got out of the air- conditioned van and bent under the tropical heat. Curious chickens and children gave us the side -eye. The families, hopeful but doubtful recipients of homes, had walked miles to greet us, to honour us. They wore their Sunday best. Hair combed smooth, clothing spotless.
Welcome signs and balloons adorned the wall behind a row of white plastic lawn chairs that had been set out for us- seats of honour facing the rows of chairs occupied by hopeful but wary El Salvadorians. We sat in our place of honour, but it didn’t feel right. We weren’t the ones who should be honoured.
I wanted to bash through the wall between privilege and poverty and connect with them. I wanted to offer love without judging their circumstances as being less than mine. Because we all suffer from some form of poverty. I was called to love them, not pity them.
Luckily, the Shelter organization had thought of this and led an ice-breaker game. It was helpful, but the wall was still there as I sat facing the El Salvadorian families. I longed to sit amongst them, but was it okay? What would I say? I, a confirmed introvert, am not one to mingle or circulate even when I have the advantage of speaking the same language with those I have much in common with. The urge persisted. I told Wendy, another member of our team, how I wished we could go sit with them. She said, “We can, let’s go.”
Wendy and I found some empty chairs next to a small woman with a big smile. Her bright pink T-shirt said “Faith over Fear.” Even before the interpreter with the Shelter team helped us talk with her, I felt a connection to this little grey-haired woman named Soila. She pointed out her husband, children and grandchildren. I marvelled at how different yet similar our lives were. I showed her a picture of my family she said they were beautiful like me.
I can’t remember everything we said, but I’ll never forget the connection I felt. A little later, our team was divided into groups and introduced to the families we would be building for that week. Two of the women my team would be building for were Soila’s daughters, but I was disappointed that I would not be building for Soila. I had been hoping to spend more time with her. When the four members of my building group stood in a small circle with the seven hopeful women we would be building homes for, the parasite of anxiety fell away as the Lord filled my heart with love for them. I was ready for a week of transformations.
Part 2 will soon be posted.
In the meantime, please consider helping me to return to El Salvador this November. I am responsible for fund-raising the cost of one home. The cost of the home is 4,000 dollars. Any amount would be appreciated! Tax receipts provided by Shelter.
Donations can be made online using the link below.
Please contribute to the team, Sunwest Church –week 1, and my name where it says "Team Member."
Let me know if you donate, and I will send you a haiku written with love.
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