This past week we visited the homes of the sweet, hard working people of this mountain. We prayed over their families, over their homes, and over their land. Pastor Paul and his wife, Taunya, made way for us to be able to bless them with bags of food too. As we visited these homes, I stood there broken for these people yet also truly inspired. 

Carmen is a sweet lady who works in the kitchen area of where we are camped. She cooks and serves us so well. She has two daughters and a son.

 Pictured above is Andrea and Nelson. One of her daughters is 15 years old and has a baby. This is norm for these mountains. We saw the house in which her daughter lives with the baby. We would think of such to be a old, neglected shack. The floors being dirt, no windows, and it being held together by wet mud and tree limbs. Carmen showed us her daughter’s bed which was really just an old mattress held up by trees too. 

When I look at Carmen I don’t see her going “wow is me” which she has every right too. I see a mighty warrior for the kingdom who pushes past her circumstances to provide for her family. She walks miles up and down these mountains every morning too work. Pretty much every person who resides here does the same seeing as it is a 2-3 hour hike into town. Before I knew Carmen’s story she would greet me everyday with a smile; you would never know the circumstances and trials of her everyday by the way she continually chooses to serve others. Pretty much every woman on this mountain works in such a manner. They are truly humble servants of the Lord and each of them deserves a crown of royalty. 

Here I am reminded that our good Father will be the one to place that crown upon their heads one day. 

Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

The Lord has been burdening my heart with asking me, “do my words truly align with my actions.” It is time to get our hands dirty, friends. This is coming from Kel who absolutely cannot stand dirt; just ask anyone of my teammates. But, if it takes getting dirty to help these beautiful souls then it is absolutely worth it. The Lord is pursuing each of them and you today too. He wants your heart. There is a whole world that is hurting; these are our brothers and sisters. Now, we obviously can’t help everyone. We have Jesus as example to look at the way he walked this earth. In John 5:19 Jesus says, “I only do what my Father tells me.”

We are called to act in this immediate obedience today.

Where is the Lord calling you? It’ll probably be uncomfortable. It might even require you to get your hands dirty. 

Let’s counter culture.

Lord, I have said so many things that I have not done;

I repent of so often putting my needs above others.

Move our hearts to be love to those who are hurting today.

Move us to action.

Thank you for opening my eyes to this world that is in need of you. Lord I pray for your continual blessing and favor upon these precious families on this mountain.

Your Beloved, Kel