A taste of Heaven

6 minute read

My body is sore, my mind is clear, my spirit is energized, and my heart is full.

This is heaven. The waves are crashing on the beach right now, the stars are bright in the sky, and the coffee is rich. I feel the presence, powerful, clear, and connected. Grateful.

Yesterday…

We began our day at the break of dawn, leaving the compound by 7am to head to the men’s home. We poured the foundation for a new home for the men the mission serves, concrete mixed with sweat, strength, and purpose.

Sand, rock, water, and 100-pound cement bags were moved with primitive tools, the kind of work that demands grit and collaboration. It was beautiful. There was no hierarchy, just men moving in unison toward a shared mission.

Synergy through masculinity.

Art shared an insight that stuck with me: “Some of us were the rock, some the sand, some the water, and God is the tumbler.”

Together, we mixed our unique gifts to lay the foundation for future generations. This wasn’t just construction. It was a metaphor for life, leadership, and legacy. This is what heaven on earth looks like, something we build, men aligned in purpose, building something that outlasts themselves.

The Men

Later, we returned to the compound, taking a brief rest before heading into the streets for ministry. Walking through the town, families living atop compacted trash piles, chickens and dogs wandering freely — I noticed something: there were no men.

Alicia, one of the missionaries, explained that many leave for the U.S., abandoning their families to fend for themselves. Others stay but fall into addiction.

The same brokenness we see in the U.S. exists here, magnified. And yet, amidst these conditions, families are thriving. They are grateful for what little they have. It was humbling.

We prayed with women like Luce, a mother of 11. She carried her household with resilience but suffered from debilitating back pain. After we prayed over her, she said the pain was gone. Watching her find relief, even for a moment, reminded me that faith in action changes lives.

Sometimes it’s as simple as showing up, offering a prayer, or laying a foundation—physically or spiritually.

But yesterday wasn’t just about the work we did. It was about the men we became.

How to Lead Men

At the beach that morning, I woke before the others, reflecting and moving. I ran three laps along the shoreline, breathing and moving, enjoying the presence in the rhythm of the waves.

Then something incredible happened. One by one, the other men joined. Without a word, they fell in line, running, sprinting, chasing, and racing. Some dropped for pushups, others for squats, everyone moving. There was no organized workout, just harmony, group flow, and an unspoken understanding that this was what we were made for.

The same phenomenon happened at the construction site.

I’m a mover, so I moved, I used my strength to lift, set the tone, create a pace and directed with action and and it sparked action in the others.

Leadership isn’t about commanding; it’s about embodying. It’s about leading yourself with decisiveness and committed effort towards a purposeful mission.

When you lead with strength and purpose, others naturally rise to the occasion. This is what masculine synergy looks like, men sharpening men through shared effort and aligned mission.

Fatherhood and Legacy

The father-and-son moments were among the most profound.

Joe, one of the High Value Men’s spoke words to his son, Jude, which were a picture of what so many men long to hear from their fathers: “With God, you’re unstoppable. Dream big dreams, buddy. You can do anything.”

Isaac’s reflection later echoed this sentiment, expressing how deeply he yearned for those words in his own life. This is the power of a father’s blessing, it plants seeds of confidence and purpose in the hearts of sons, shaping the men they become.

When in Doubt, Focus Out

As I sit here now, reflecting on the day, I’m overwhelmed by the clarity of our mission.

The High Value Man isn’t just a concept; it’s a calling. Faithful leadership, purposeful action, generational impact—this is what we’re building, not just here in El Salvador but everywhere we go.

This is heaven on earth, when men come together in unity, when we pour ourselves out as rock, sand, and water, and let God mix us into something stronger.

A Golden Moment

Filled with gold. The waves are crashing powerfully, the coffee is strong and the clarity and creativity are flowing to and through. This is gold. This is what it’s all about.

Thank You for the strength You’ve given me, for the men You’ve placed alongside me, and for the honor of leading them. What a blessing.

This mission, this purpose, this vision, this vocation, this what it’s all about to create a legacy and become a High Value Man.

Much love,

E