This past week was another change in my life. I went with an amazing team to El Salvador with CF Missions to accomplish several goals. First was to create a mobile medical clinic, which served over 1,200 people in just 4 days. Second was to go into over 5 schools to be apart of a culture exposure for us to learn more about students in El Salvador and for them to learn about us and why we were there. Lastly was to help resource pastors in El Salvador by helping create a Simple Church conference. 

There were 29 people from Christ Fellowship Miami that went, including several of our worship pastors that came specifically for the conference on Thursday and Friday. It was such a blessing to be able to serve in El Salvador with my new local church family. 

The time spent there was not only incredibly rewarding, but challenging as well. The more I grow more in knowing who Jesus really is, I see how much He cares about “the least of these.” In Matthew 25, Jesus explains how He will separate people as the Good Shepherd does between the “sheep” and “goats.” He will judge them according to how they knew Him and they showed they knew Him. The response is affirming His position by calling Him what He truly is, Lord, and then followed by the realization of the different people that were served who were reflection of Him. These are the different types of people that should be served:

Hungry, Thirsty, Stranger, Naked, Sick, In Prison

This morning was a hard reality in the heart I have when it comes to serving those around me. I was taking pictures of our CF Outreach in downtown Miami, which serves meals to hungry, thirsty, strangers who need clothes. Some were sick and some were trying to change from lives in prison, but my job was to document it so we could highlight the need. After I took a picture of a man putting on new shoes, which I admit now I should have asked his permission first, he rebuked me for making him a spectacle. I DID NOT MEAN TO DO THAT! I do not want to exploit people in hard circumstances, I want to help them. I was so frustrated by his response to me, who was just trying to take pictures to tell others about what is going on and how they can help, that I genuinely was angry at him.

Paul encourages the Galatian church in Galatians 6 that if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness and as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. I completely messed that up this morning.

I write to apologize for my selfishness in how I wanted to serve and be rewarded. I write to encourage brothers and sisters with what Jesus said concerning this problem. Jesus explained that For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. Since we always have the poor, we must continue to glorify the Son of Man through what He wants to say to us when we see His face one day,

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.