Evotional.com - Mark Batterson

What a day. It was the strangest "memorial day" I've ever had. I'm used to chilling out with family and grilling out. It sort of ushers in the summer season. This memorial day was unlike any other. To make a long story short, we built a house today. We met an elderly woman who has lived in the same mud house for forty years. It's probably ten feet by ten feet at the most. It's hard to imagine living in a 100 square foot house with three other people for forty years! Her roof started to leak and her house was falling down. We spent all day cutting wood and framing the house. Then we mixed the mud and hay that form the walls. We didn't quite finish the job, but we almost built an entire house in one day. What a way to spend a memorial day. There was such a feeling of accomplishment.

I think it was hard for this woman to even comprehend who we were or why we were there. We were able to share the love of Christ in a very practical way. Fitsum said we might as well have been angels! There is no greater feeling than blessing someone who can't bless you back. Although, she kept pronouncing blessings on us :)

I'm overwhelmingly grateful for the blessings I take for granted--hot showers, traffic lights, drinkable water, electricity, and the Internet just to name a few.

One last thought. I spoke yesterday about Jesus going to prepare a place for us in John 14. I think my expectations are different that someone who lives in a mud hut. I think this elderly woman will be blown away by the mansion Jesus is building for her!