I am sitting in a chair under a covered shelter in El Salvador, listening to the rumble of thunder and hearing the rain as it falls on the terra cotta roof.  The scenery is beautiful – mango, lime, banana, cashew, coconut, and a host of other fruit trees dot the landscape.  Flowers of all colors display the beauty of God’s creation.  The breeze created by the rainstorm freshens and cools the air.  Such is the setting at Pepe’s House, the temporary home of those who give up the comfort of their own homes to participate in God’s mission in another part of the world.  Earlier in the day, our mission team delivered large bags of food – rice, beans, cooking oil, sugar, salt, protein drink mix, spaghetti, sardines, and other items to hungry families in the surrounding area.

The beauty that surrounds Pepe’s House is enclosed by a great wall that separates and provides some respite from the activities of the day and the surrounding community.  It is ironic, however, that the reason our mission team is in El Salvador is because of what lies beyond the wall.  We are here because of those who live in abject poverty.  We are here to bring a glimmer of hope to people whose children go to bed at night with empty stomachs because there is no food to fill them.  To people whose homes are flooded because of the heavy rains and whose floors are nothing but mud.  To people who need the rain for their crops and, at the same time, whose lives are drenched by the rain I am enjoying. To people who live in fear because of those who seek to do them harm and take away the few personal belongings they have.  To people who are sick, with no funds to pay for a physician or the medicines they need.  To people who graciously receive the food items we prepare and deliver to them, knowing the food will last a short time before it is gone.

And, I find myself praying for the people – those to whom God has sent me and who bless me through their hospitality and warmth.  I pray for their safety from the storm, for the children who will wake up with rainwater in their beds.  I also pray for the children at home in the United States, even in our own community, who will go to sleep hungry tonight because there is no food in their cupboards.

Yet, there is hope, because of people like you who reach out in Jesus’ name.  I recall the words of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (vs. 40)  How wonderful it is when we serve in Jesus’ name, for in doing so, we are serving Christ himself.