Sunday, July 04, 2010

Andrew's Bike Repair Shop

If you ride a bike, popped tires are just a part of life. Here in Las Glorias, it’s even more common due to the wonderful cactus and thorned bushes growing everywhere. The kids have all become proficient at patching bike tubes. Andrew, though, has a special knack for things mechanical.

When we first arrived, Andrew was only 8 but he quickly became known around our village as “the kid who patches bike tires”. He enjoyed the fame and soon his ministry grew to include adjusting brakes, tightening seats and even installing new gear cables.

While we were in the States last winter, Andrew was adamant about needing to find a specific part for a bike. I wondered at this, since at the time he didn’t even have a bike. It turns out that for quite some time Chuy, a man who works around our village doing odd jobs, had been coming to Andrew to adjust his brakes. Now the brakes were completely worn out. Andrew knew that Chuy wouldn’t be able to purchase the replacement parts and that they would be better quality in the States, so he bought them.

The day after we returned home, Chuy stopped by to say hello and while he and Doug chatted, Andrew replaced his brakes. I told Andrew later that I thought it was really cool that he was willing to bless Chuy in that way and then asked if he had given any thought to a small business. Maybe he could earn a few pesos to purchase more bike parts. He smiled and said that he wouldn’t feel right charging the people to fix things. “Mom,” he said, “these guys don’t have money to buy gas. That’s why they ride their bikes. I really don’t need anything…just more patches, I guess.”

Philippians 4:19-20 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Have the kids around you reminded you of any spiritual truths today? They often do that, you know!

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