Spiritual Formation | 12/18/2025 11:10:00 AM

Written by: David Coppedge
 
Today was very fun but very intimate as well, which was very special to me. Instead of a formal piece of writing I am just going to share some my "snapshots" as we call them from today and also just mention random things that come to mind because it's late.
        
First of all, being on a mission trip with just five dudes is a blast, funny, and intimate overall. It has been a blessing.
 
Second of all, Cam mentioned yesterday that they were going to have to repaint the walls that we painted, but they actually turned out good so we were proud of ourselves.  Anyways, we were doing home visits all day and one moment that really convicted me was when this member of the church named Maria was talking to us about her life and how her legs have been bothering her. She said that sometimes she only gets 1 or 2 hours of sleep, but she said that many nights she would use that time she was awake to pray. I was like, wow, whenever I can't fall asleep my first instinct is not to pray, but to be worried about all I have to do tomorrow and how much this is going to mess me up and I get mad and frustrated.
        
Another crazy God moment during home visits was when this grandmother was talking about how her son moved to the states and was working there and did not contact her for 22 years at all, nothing. But she said when he finally did, he had been going to church and was growing in his faith.  What?! She said she thought he may have been dead but instead he came to know Jesus and now they talk regularly about God and in general as well.           
The next snapshot I have is from the church service we attended tonight. It was truly amazing by the Lead pastor Pinot, that there was maybe 30 people in the room, but he preached with such pure joy on his face and was so passionate and I didn't even know what he was saying. He was smiling the whole time.
 
When you have material needs met, your need for God begins to lessen. On that note the pastor was so welcoming of the five of us and is an example of a true leader of Gods Church. Another thing that just blows me away is how loving all the church members are. People were hugging everyone and hugging us and we hadn't even met them before. Again, I was like wow I wish this kind of love and interaction and intimacy was common in the states.
        
To wrap this great day up, we are sitting at dinner at a restaurant and the salsa with the chips is very very spicy, so Spencer asked us who is going to drink the salsa out the bowl straight up. I didn't think it would happen, but Cam all out downed that salsa HAHA. It was incredible and hilarious. We will see how he is tomorrow.