JOY IN SIMPLICITY

Jessie Abraham MARCH 3 - MARCH 6

The last few days we have spent in Tierra Bomba, a little island off the coast of Cartagena. Missionaries have opened their home here to allow for us to join them in their ministry. The missionaries run a small school for children elementary to high-school age which is held on the property. While here, we have had the amazing opportunity to grow in relationship with the kids, who are so mature in their own faith. We got to show them what it means to study a specific major. Our team has blessed and been blessed by the community on the island. I had a conversation with one of the missionaries who pours his heart and soul into the community and he shared with me the beauty of joy in simplicity. The night before, we had had a sweet time of fellowship as the worship team practiced for a worship night. The time was filled with games and cooking and dancing but all of it was done in pure joy of the Lord. There was nothing flashy, no need to have everything at your fingertips, no need to impress anybody. It was the simple lifestyle of living every single second dedicated unto the Lord and finding complete contentment in Him. He alone is our fulfillment. The kids we ministered to were able to see the beauty of fellowship in the Kingdom of God through our ministry to them. We were able to see the beauty of simplicity and joy in their ministry to us.

As our team embraced this truth, the kingdom of God was revealed. This was most obvious during our final day in Tierra Bomba in which our team joined the local church for a night of worship. Spanish and English voices combined to create a harmonious sound whose only purpose of which was to praise the Lord. The church of Colombia and the United States merged together to glorify our savior as well as show love to one another. In our praise and fellowship, the Lord dwelled with us. Without all the distractions of a consumerist culture, the work and the joy of the Lord was so easily seen to those who took the time to pay attention. He was clearly working and had poured his blessings out towards that community as God alone fulfilled their every need. My prayer is that as we go forward, back to school, and the busy lifestyle of a student, that we would keep in mind to find joy in the simple parts of life. May we keep in mind that the Lord alone is our only contentment.