Choose Compassion

Many of you know the story in the Bible when Jesus fed 5,000 people with 5 loafs of bread and 2 fish. Maybe you haven't heard it this way though. We are learning this week to choose compassion. Today we, The Southbrook Team, chose compassion. You see in the story in the Bible, Jesus and his disciples wanted to be alone because they had just learned of John the Baptists death. As they set their boat on shore, more and more people started to show up, the disciples wanted to send all the people to town to get food for themselves before it got dark. However, Jesus knew these people were grieving and he chose for them to stay, and told his disciples what little food they had would be enough. He wanted these people to be with him so he could share his compassion with them.

Today at the Christmas party at the Quito Dump, there were so many children that did not get in. I would say there were over 2,000 that did not get tickets. Many left after several hours of waiting to see if they would be let in. As we were leaving I noticed the girl in the photo above crying her eyes out. She had waited over 6 hours to get into the party and get a food bag to take home to her family and a Navidad bag for herself. Not speaking Spanish, I asked Bob Seavey to talk with her and see if we could comfort her. The Southbrook team grabbed one of the Ecuadorian pastors and asked if we could give her a food bag. We lifted this 10lb bag of food and a Navidad bag over the fence for her. While she did not get to play the games or dance to the music, have her nails painted or have her picture taken with Santa, we can rest tonight knowing that she will have a meal. I am thankful that God has chosen me to go on this trip with these Godly people! I am continuously amazed at their compassion.

Thankful,

Mike