Perspective — Bolivia
In recent years we have been hearing of war and conflicts in many regions; armed conflicts have been escalating, provoking thousands of displacements, millions of poor and a sense of hopelessness and distress.
It seems that we are experiencing the kind of signs Jesus described in Matthew 24 as signs of “the end of the age” (v.3).
Jesus’ words echo in our minds and souls: “And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold” (v.12).
It is during this type of circumstances that we as believers are called to show our faith by embodying solidarity as a way of living and not just as a concept. When wickedness is increasing, God’s love should shine brighter in and from us.
Bearing each other’s burdens
In the letter to the Galatians, Apostle Paul states that if we want to fulfill “the law of Christ,” we must carry each other’s burdens. In other words, Paul is simply asking us to keep our eyes sensitive to the need around us.
When I think of the church accomplishing this task, I see myself growing up in extreme poverty in the south of the Dominican Republic.
There was not armed conflict present, but poverty was so extreme, that often our only meal of the day was green boiled bananas and nothing else. Other days, just a glass of sugar water was all we had.
The pastor of our local congregation understood this call to share burdens. Not only did he share whatever he had with us, but he also knocked on doors with an international aid organization to set up a sponsorship program for our community. This provided food, clothing and education to many of us.
When this happened, our burden became lighter and our days started to have a little more than just green boiled bananas or a glass of sugar water.
Sharing hopes
“Tomorrow will be a better day!”
It was a favourite saying that came out of my mother’s lips when I went to her, sobbing and complaining, even saying that I was going to skip school that day because I was hungry. She repeatedly explained to me that God had already planned a much better day for us. Then she said, please go to school, because education is your opportunity to success.
I later learned that the better day that God has planned for someone often has to do with someone else listening to the calling in Galatians 6:10:
“So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.”
It was an Anabaptist couple in the USA who decided to take advantage of an opportunity to child sponsor a child, in the south of the Dominican Republic. They used the resources God had given them to share the burden with that young boy. They provided the means for him to have more food, clothing and an education.
They became the inspiring fountain of waters of hope that irrigated a better future for that young boy, Francis Pérez de Léon, and for my parents and my siblings.
Sharing hopes is a decision, a commitment, that we as part of the family of Christ are to accomplish.
We have a great opportunity to let God’s love be relevant and transforming in the lives of many that are suffering. And if we conclude that our financial resources are not enough to support others in need, then let’s use an even greater resource we have at hands: prayers.
Praying for one another
In the book of Ephesians 6:18 the Apostle commands us:
“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”
When we share the burdens and hopes with our fellows in need, we are opening doors to a better future not only for those who are directly receiving or benefiting from our actions, but also for those who will be then reached by those we impacted first.
For that Anabaptist couple who sponsored me, this translates as all the people that God has allow me to reach in over 30 years of ministry.
We are the family of Christ, and you are not alone.
—Francis Pérez de Léon is a leader in Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Boliviana. He is one of the Latin America representatives on MWC’s Executive Committee. He spoke this reflection at the Renewal 2026 event in the Philippines in March 2026 “Solidarity in the family of Christ: Sharing burdens, sharing hope.”
