Lent: Day Thirty-Seven

After the dedication of our well at Campenaro Numero Dos, El Salvador, one of the villagers invited our team to his house to celebrate. We sat in the shade of palm trees, enjoying conversation, laughter, and fresh coconuts and mangoes while the children danced about and put flowers in our hair.

I felt both honored and humbled to be treated so lavishly. The following is an excerpt from the blog I wrote about the celebration:

All Jorge has is eight coconuts and five mangoes. It is not enough. But it will have to do.

He raises his machete, deftly slicing the hairy fruits in half and urging us to eat. He plucks five mangoes -- lime green and crunchy like an apple -- from his mango tree. None remain on his branches for later.

He apologizes: “It is not enough.” He knows we gave $1,700 and a week of vacation time to bring his village clean water.

If only Jorge could hear our thoughts.

To me, the moment is surreal. As drops of coconut juice slide down my chin, I know Jorge has given everything to thank us. It makes our sacrifice seem small, like the story in the Gospel of Mark about the woman who gives two pennies and is considered more generous than those giving large sums that are only tiny portions of their wealth.

To me, this is the capstone on a week of learning that living in an impoverished state does not impoverish one’s spirit.