So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul makes an interesting request: “complete my joy.” What is even more peculiar about this request is that Paul did not seek to find his joy in being paid back for his work, but rather in seeing his work be paid forward. He connects his own personal joy to the unity, humility, and love shared among those he cared for.
In March, several of our partnering communities answered this call and paid it forward. Due to a particularly long and difficult dry season, the community of Rancho Pando has been battling severe drought. This drought depleted their harvests, forcing the community members to go further and pay more just to keep food on their tables.
After hearing of these problems, leaders from neighboring communities were determined to help.
Working with Amigos’ community advocates, the people of La Grecia, La Danta, and El Pedregal collected hundreds of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms and gardens to deliver to their friends in need. On March 24th, a team collected these generous offerings of bananas, papaya, mangos, and more. Deliveries were made to over forty families in Rancho Pando, where each bag was received with a smiling face and a joyful heart.
At Amigos for Christ, it is our mission to serve, so that Christ becomes more visible. This means following the example of the One who emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant and loved those who could never pay Him back. Jesus came to this world to love and to serve, and He has called us to do the same. Our goal is to follow this great example, and in so doing to share the incredible love of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
As an organization, our objective is community transformation. However, our joy does not end there. Rather than experiencing the joy of a favor returned, out ultimate hope is to have our joy made complete in seeing each favor multiplied. It is our vision to see transformed communities continue to transform other communities. We hope to see unity, humility, and love of Jesus shared and multiplied throughout Chinandega and beyond. Yesterday, the people of La Grecia, La Danta, and El Pedregal sparked this hope by giving generously from that which the Lord had blessed them with. Today, the people of Rancho Pando anxiously await the day in which they will have the opportunity to do the same.
