There's a small compound in the middle of the slums of Los Guido outside of San Jose, Costa Rica. In the midst of the violence, abusive homes, drug addicts, and alcoholics, God uses this compound to be a light in the darkness.
It's often easy on a missions trip to begin to gain pride in the work you are doing, to need to find praise for your efforts, and to begin to have the mentality that what you contribute to a ministry is worthy of high honor.
But at the Christian Light Foundation Costa Rica, humility as leaders serve their community is more than just a mentality, it's a way of life. Our contacts, Mark and Meg (and all their fellow workers), strive hard to bring the love of God into some of the worst parts of Costa Rica; not so that they would be glorified, but so that the people they serve would come to know God.
This vision is one that I have managed to lose focus on the past several weeks. Yet despite my shortcomings, God is still so good to me. God has placed me here alongside these people and this organization to bring me back to what truly matters, to "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven". (Matthew 5:16)
It is not my good deeds that deserve the praise, but my Father in Heaven who first called me to do them.
As part of this lesson, Mark has urged our three teams to look for the majesty of God every day in our activities, especially the small moments. So in an effort to do just that, here are just a few ways that I've seen God show up these past two weeks:
- The love for the community of Los Guido and the other nearby slums that God has instilled in every member of the organization and church.
- The strength and courage of the many youth leaders that have made the decision to walk away from the worldly culture and choose to follow God instead.
- The joy and resilience of the kids who live a life harder than I could accurately describe.
- The softness God maintains in the hearts of those in Los Guido despite the tough circumstances that constantly surround them.
- The desire to serve one another as people give up their seat on the bus so the women with babies and/or small children need not stand.
- The teenage boy as he carried his tiny baby girl onto the bus, and the look (the huge grin of affection and love) that he gave her as he handed her off to the mom as she sat down in the seat. It is the same look that I imagine God has for each and every one of us.
- To be able to make eye contact and smile at someone and have them return it right back to you. To be able to bring them that joy of being seen and acknowledged, for every person strives to know they are worthy.
In a part of Costa Rica that even the locals are scared to go to, God is present and He shines brightly throughout the area. I pray that these next two weeks that I am here, God would use me to spread His light even more.
"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."
– 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (NIV)
