Note From The Board – July 2014
Note From The Unite4Africa Board – July 2014 – Rob Rielly
More Than A Leg To Stand On
Last month I had the privilege to be part of a short term mission trip to La Cieba, Honduras. It was a an incredible blessing to see and be a small part of the work that God is doing in La Cieba. On this particular trip, much of our days were spent working on construction projects in stifling heat and humidity. We had to drink a minimum of 8 liters of water each during the day to prevent dehydration, so water breaks were mandatory on the construction jobs. It was during one such water break that I found myself wishing for the comforts of home, such as air-conditioning and power tools.
That is when I first met Dionisio. Dionisio was running the construction job and lived further up the mountain, about half a mile away up a muddy dirt road. Dionisio’s constant smile was refreshing. I found him to be gracious, hard working and kind. He worked all day in the sun, supervising the job, directing and training the workers. Several years ago Dionisio was electrocuted on a construction project, an accident in which he lost both arms and a leg. He made his way along the muddy roads that wound up and down the hills of his community using his one leg and two crutches fastened under his armpits. Any thought I had of my own discontentment vanished.
Poverty is often thought of strictly in terms of physical possessions and resources. However, often it is our focus on those very physical possessions that rob us of peace and take our focus off of God. Ecclesiastes 5:12 says “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.” Spending time with Dionisio was rich in spite of his lack of material possessions.
The aim of Unite 4 Africa is not focused on material possessions. While Unite 4 Africa does do work in Africa to address material poverty and empower communities, the main focus of Unite 4 Africa is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. During my trips to Africa I have seen the heart of Dionisio’s faith in so many believers. They have little to nothing, as related to western standards, even physical impairments, but their faith is great, abundant, alive, and focused on Jesus. They live for Jesus!
May we all live our lives for God/Jesus
Rob Rielly
Board Member
Unite 4 Africa