The Masaya Girls

Masaya, Nicaragua.  This is one of my favorite photographs.  The joy and beauty of the young girls stand in stark contrast to their severe poverty.  Their family has no front door. The family uses plywood and a large piece of furniture to barricade the front door opening at night.  To the right of this photo, there is plywood covering the opening for the front window with graffiti on it.  They have no running water or electricity.  The interior floor is dirt. Yet, such joy. Such contentment. Such warm fellowship.  Such love.

The “Masaya Girls” are a treasure to me.  I have a large print of this photo in my house, and it serves as a continual reminder of the words of Paul, “For I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.” Philippians 4:13.

When we go on mission trips to third-world countries, we go with the hope that we can help other people, but I often find that the nationals are more of a blessing to me.