GALATIANS 3:28
My dream of going to the jungle became a reality when my family and I went on a mission trip to Ecuador. One night, the cooks prepared all sorts of native foods for us. I told myself that I would try everything so I could get the full cultural experience. But when one of the missionaries took a monkey head out of a stew and took out the brain for us to eat, it really grossed me out. I thought, “What weirdos! Who would want to take out a monkey’s brain and eat it?” It seemed to me a very barbaric and disgusting thing to do. But everybody was given a small piece to try and, not wanting to be rude, I gingerly put it in my mouth, bracing myself for the horrible taste. It was so small I could barely feel it, but I could taste it enough to know it was actually really good. I was so glad I had tried it because I realized that the missionaries were not crazy. They were eating monkey brains because that’s what people eat in the jungles of Ecuador. They had been willing to give up a “normal” American life to go serve God in the jungles of Ecuador. I felt bad for judging them so quickly just because they did things differently from me. Because when it comes down to it, weird doesn’t mean bad. It just means different.
Allison Engel, 16, Wheaton North High School, Wheaton, IL
I want to see everyone through Your eyes today. Lord,
because You see the beauty in our differences.