HSBC Coffeebreak

…apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 NASB

Slowly but steadily we climbed up a bumpy mountain road in an old Jeep. Eucalyptus trees dotted the Andes hillside. Pink quinoa grew amongst small patchwork farms, extending beyond my view. Finally we reached our destination, a Quichua Indian village, nestled in the heart of Ecuador.

My host missionaries and I were greeted with warmth and friendliness by the brightly dressed Quichua people. With lots of smiles and nods, we were ushered inside where a simple table was set with a mix match of dishes. I could smell something cooking. It was a peculiar odor, one that I couldn’t identify.

I recalled what my host missionaries had told me, “The Quichuas share their best food with us-- food they seldom eat themselves. It would be insulting for us to turn down their generosity. Some of the food, meat especially, may have set out at room temperature for days. We always silently pray before eating, asking for protection from sickness. Never once have we become sick after eating their food.”

We gathered around the table and sat in our appointed places. Being their new guest, I was given the honorable serving of a roasted guinea pig, complete with an attached head! I swallowed hard and wondered if I could really eat that. Next, I was given a bowl of broth with “chunkies” that I did not recognize. Ah ha, this is what I had smelled earlier.

As a jolly Quichua man prayed a prayer that I could not understand, I silently prayed for help to eat this food and for protection from getting sick. I was lacking faith but did not want to offend these kind people. I remembered what the missionaries had told me earlier, and I knew they would be praying for me, too.

God did enable me to eat that meal. I did not get sick, nor did I get sick for the remainder of my time in Ecuador. Each time the friendly Quichuas shared a meal, we silently prayed and God protected us from sickness.

The American food that I missed most that summer was simply a hamburger. After my long flight back to the United States, my friends picked me up at the airport and asked me what I wanted to eat. Without giving it a second thought, I said, “a hamburger!” They took me to an American restaurant, and I ordered a burger. Oh, was it ever tasty! However, a while later, hamburgers didn’t sound the least bit appealing. I was sick and learned that I had a mild case of food poisoning. At the time I did not think it was funny, but hindsight reveals a bit of humor in the situation.

While I was in Ecuador, I was out of my comfort zone and naturally more aware of my dependence on God. I felt a need for Him even when I ate a meal. However, back in my own country, I thought I could handle it. God reminded me that I still needed Him for the simple things, even when I was in familiar territory. Apart from Him, I can do NOTHING. I need Him, and He wants me to be mindful of that-- no matter where I am or what I’m doing.

Dear Lord,
I’m grateful for Your constant presence in my life. Thank You for always taking care of me. Even when I lose sight of You, You still have Your eye on me. I desire to live with increasing awareness of my need for You, whether in difficulty or ease. Amen.

Written by
Jodeen Erickson