La Casa

While in Mexico half of our team spent the week building a house for a needy family. They were a family of six. Mom, Dad, a 10 month old baby, a 4 year old boy, 7 year old girl, and a 17 year old girl, who is expecting her own child soon. They were a Oaxacan family living in a small two room house with dirt floors and no running water.

The family was a joy to be with over the week. The children especially were a lot of fun. They loved to "help" where ever and whenever, they could.

The house was a three room house, one large room and two small bedrooms. It wasn't much by our standards but it was much nicer than what they had been living in.

As we worked I was reminded of the words of Isaiah in the first chapter, in which God chides His people for their meaningless worship. They were consumed with all the rituals and traditions of worship but their hearts were far from worshipping Him. God finally says to them in Isaiah 1:15-17,

When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!

Stop doing wrong,
learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

How often we are guilty of the same. I have come to learn that the highest form of worship is not singing nice songs, or being a part of a fancy worship service, rather it is things like building a house for someone in need. It is coming along side the oppressed and being a blessing. We weren't singing much as we built the house, but it was one great time of worship.

The highlight of the whole week was presenting the family with the keys to their new house and sharing with them that it was a gift from the God that loves them deeply. What a priviledge it was to be the hand of God as He handed them such a wonderful gift, a gift that they were so thankful for. There are not many times in life as fulfilling as that!

I want to be a better worshipper. I want to be used of God more to be a blessing to others. I am thankful for all that God showed me in the short time that we were there. I was changed.

The Construction Team.