God's Greatest Resource: People

Bill and I have always known how we have been immensely blessed during our married lives. Not necessarily through money all the time, but always through riches that far surpass anything that can ever be given any value of number. Well, for the last few days, I am once again blown away by how God is providing for us through his most precious asset: people.

First of all, as I have written about earlier, we met a woman named Christina who graciously introduced us to many people around town. This lead us to meeting and falling in love with our new addition of "familia," the Esters. Joaquinn and Maria Ester run a hostel in Coyhaique. A precious home with a Chilean touch of wood stoves and clean, small rooms, this place is where Bill and I have been calling home. The Esters treat everyone like family, but I have to tell you, we are getting the red carpet treatment. For instance, I was not wanting to be in the way the other day, and decided to load up my dirty clothes and take them to a cleaners. Maria would not have it. She insisted that I wash my clothes at the hostel, because the lavenderia was too expensive. When another man overheard her, he kindly asked could he wash his clothes at the hostel...she sweetly said, "No." Also, we met a German family who allows people to come and live with them in a cabin separate from their home in order to work at their farm. When the man came to the hostel to take us to his home so that we could look it over, Joaquinn and Maria both questioned him in detail, wanting to know exactly what his plans were with us...and where he was taking us. It makes us feel wonderful knowing the Esters care. They wouldn't even rent out our room the one night that we left to go to the mountains. They left it for us to have when we returned the next day. Joaquinn said, "My casa es tu casa." Wow.

Another wonderful person is a man named Edwardo, whom we met at church. He must sit around all day and try to think of ways that Bill can get work, or where we can live. He has come to us twice, taking us to meet people whom we could possibly work for, and showing us houses to possibly stay in. He had to be around us a bit before he could feel he trusted us. I appreciate that.

The list of people goes on: the gracious people we have met at a Baptist Church in Coyhaique, pastored by Kyle Sheridan, a young man from California who is doing a fantastic job of spreading God's word. Another wonderful missionary named Tom with his wife Connie. They pastor in Northern Chile, and are always trying to give us advice on how things operate around here. Godly, beautiful people who have made it their life ambition to spread God's word in Chile and have raised a large family, including eight adopted Chileans.

I just stand amazed at how God puts people in our paths and helps us here in a foreign place, just like he blessed us with such great family and friends back at home. Why do I ever doubt God's love?