Supplying all our needs

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

 

Since we have been here we have been students of language and culture.  We have a strong desire to understand our new community.  We try to observe firsthand, both evident and implied, some general characteristics of life here.  Linda and I are doing this for many reasons.  One of the main reasons is to see where we can help:  how can we contribute in a way that translates that we truly care.  We took that for granted back in the States since we knew where to fill certain needs of our community, for example,  through our local church. 

 

Here we look for ways to help.  We are looking for tangible needs in our community so we can contribute positively.  By this we hope to express the eternal love that is in us, to gain trust, and a way to receive the precious privilege to share Christ.

 

We have been here two months now; we are stumbling and bumbling through the most menial of tasks.  Tasks we took for granted.  Things like buying groceries, medicine, and parking a car seem to consume most of our days here.  So we at times have gotten very discouraged when we are learning how to do basic tasks in a new language and country. 

 

An amazing thing has happened during our reeducation.  People from all walks of our life here have come out and help us!  We want so bad to help others, but we have found the opposite.  Christians from the local churches, our neighbors in our building, mothers from school, police officers, all see us struggling and lend us a guiding hand.  Most recently our babies have gotten a fever and the medicines are not the same.  A mother from school gave us a bottle of ibuprofen.  We were so thankful to her.

 

We are so used to giving ourselves that sometimes we forget how to receive.  And by receiving help there is still an exchange.  An exchange that shows your neighbor that you are feeble and frail and at times you will need help too. 

 

I’m thankful to our Father who provides help from sometimes the most unexpected places.  And in receiving, we can exchange Christ’s love as well.

 

-Victor