Appreciative

On Saturaday Sept 10 we unloaded the truck that finally came with all our stuff on it. We had sold the majority of our belongings except for the neccesities that we thought that we would need down here in Belize and maybe a couple of sentimental items. It is amazing what we consider necessary items. Hosea (our worker) whose wife Rosa and two young sons Abraham who is probable 1 1/2 or so and Edwin who isn't much older along with Rosa's nephew Hosea were here visiting when we unloaded the truck. I asked Hosea (the worker) if he had a stove and refridgerator as we unloaded our brand new ones that Dale bought for us and he said no. We also found out that Hosea didn't have a bed . He was going to buy one today as it was payday for him. Dale asked if he could Hosea and family home today just so that we could see what type of house he lived in. What they live in and pay $1.00 a day rent for is just a shack. It has holes in the roof and just some tin metal for the sides. There is no floor just a tarp on the ground. Wow, what an eye opener. Getting back to the unloading of the truck which in 100 degree weather is very hot especially in a large box truck. I was for the first time in my life embaressed by all the material possessions that we own, or should I say that many times own us. Here we are unloading box after box and item after item with Hosea helping and his family watching wondering what they are thinking about. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with material things unless they become our consuming desire to obtain them.. Here we are working our butts off to obtain more stuff that we probably won't use for to long or won't be satisfied with in a few months and here is a family that is happy having nothing and working just for their next meal. We don't hear people down here complaining about not having these things, even the things we consider to be the essentials but in the past I have moaned because I did have this or that which in reality I could have easily lived without. It is amazing how God's Word becomes more of a reality when faced with and seeing people who have to live without things. He says in His Word to be content with what we have and that we can know His peace no matter what our circumstances. I see a huge difference in the stress of the people in the Estado Unitos who strive for the things that they probably don't need as compared to the people down here who are striving for their families existence. I pray that I can let go of things more and hold on to God and helping these people more. I think for the first time in my life I feel like what I am doing is worthwhile. I am no longer working to obtain things, but we are working to make a difference in peoples lives. We are working to provide our basic needs and the needs of others.
Anna has been doing terriffic down here. Despite all the bites from the numerous insects, the ants that have also taken up residency in our house, not having anything to cook on (the stove and fridge are not yet hooked up) except the makeshift fireplace that is very difficult to cook on in the rain she has cooked some great meals for us. And anyone that knows my wife knows that she can whip up a terriffic meal with just a handful of ingredients and that is just about all she has had is a handful of ingredient. She concocted a new creation using some of the avacados from the orchard. She made a spicy lime spread from it and put it on a chicken sandwich with tomato, it was great. She has been washing laundry by hand which we knew she would have to but you must understand that it is not just your typical laundry. When I said before that I have never worked this hard in my life it also meant that I have never gotten this filthy in my life. When I come from planting more orchard or gardening or bushhogging etc, I am covered with mud. Now when I say mudd I know what you are thinking. But the dirt down here, while I am told it is very fertile soil, it is unlike any that we have at home. At home we sometimes find soil that is claylike, well this is like that to the max. When this mudd gets ahold of you it doesn't let go. I wash my hands and it is glued to my fingernail literally. I have to scrape at my nail and still can't get it off. Well that is what it does on my clothes also. I look like a mud monster when I come home and Anna tell me to get into the outdoor shower that I have constructed under the water tower. Ladies appreciate your automatic washers that you have at home or even the laundomat you can go to. I don't think that there are many women that could have taken on what Anna has which makes me love her even more than before. Being a housewife takes on a whole new meaning down here than up in Maine.
We have our work cut out for us down here and will face many challenges, but we are very happy with our new lives. While life may be harder for us we have much less stress and pressures on us. It is a very simple way of life and find that without the TV, phones, radios, stores to jump into the car and go to etc we relax more, we get to know people more, and actually enjoy life more. People, read my lips we all need to simplify our lifes! I pray that we all can do that more and be able to hear Gods voice in the still times. He tells us to be still and know that He is God. We don't know how to be still with our busy lives.