Day 2: Knowing and Being Known

When Jesus went to the pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem, he healed a paralyzed man. In John 5:6 it stares that Jesus “knew” he had been ill for a long time. The Greek for “knew” in the verse can mean to become acquainted - to know personally.  Jesus got to know the man before he healed him - he found out about him - he built a relationship.

We can fall into the trap of thinking that we are in El Salvador to build houses to help the poor, and that is good enough. But that is not what Jesus modelled. Jesus values relationships; he values people - all of us regardless of our backgrounds, experiences, or where we were born and raised.  And these families that we have been building homes for are not just a statistic. They are mothers, fathers, children and families - they all have value.

This is what has been so amazing about our past 3 days here in El Salvador- it has been the relationships we have been able to build. The people we have gotten to know and the amazing stories we have been able to hear and be a part of.

Yesterday the team took over a school yard to play parachute games, skipping, bocce frisbee and of course soccer as well as face painting with 40 local kids. The teacher thanked us for bringing a moment of joy to their lives. Today the play area was in the middle of the road with blankets and towels for shade.

Today we built a home for Marta and Dennis who stated they would never be able to afford a house.  They hope for a good path and education for their child. And there many more stories like theirs.

We have built relationships with the local families we worked alongside, team members have been prayed for by the family they built for, and local families have given freely from the little they have to bless us.  

Yes, we have built homes for 24 families so far - and that is so important.  But we have been so richly blessed by the relationships that we have established.

Dan and Rachelle Mohr