On our last day in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, our host offered to take us up to his property on the mountain. We had been praying for some complications with this land to be resolved since day one of being in this community and were excited to actually see the land we had been praying over. Our team assumed (whoops) that we would be driving all the way up to the property, looking around, then driving back down in time to pack and clean before our very early departure the next day. Turns out the plan was to walk 30 minutes up the mountain instead of drive. Walking was completely fine- we just needed to grab our water bottles, change out of our flip flops, and drop our backpacks off.
I did not want to go on this adventure. At all. I was hot, sweaty, super dehydrated, hungry, concerned about bus tickets and food I still needed to purchase for the next day, and I hadn’t even started to pack. On top of that, I had a very frustrating morning trying to ensure I had my pictures from the month tucked away somewhere safe in the cyber world. On our walk back to the house before our trudge up the mountain, I prayed for God to change my heart and my attitude. I knew this was important to our host and that I needed to remain present and stop worrying. That battle was His and I wanted to give it to Him. I knew nobody wanted to go except our team leader and I didn’t want her to go alone. I was committed to going with her and enjoying whatever was thrown our way.
Our walk with our host turned into a hike very quickly. For the first 40 minutes (surprise- not a 30 min walk) I prayed, sometimes out loud, that God would give me the strength and energy to enjoy and appreciate what we were doing. I hiked chanting to myself “I can do all things, I can do all things, I can do all things…” At first I was so focused on all of the nature (not in a good way… so much nature… ants, spiders, ants, mosquitos, vines, spider webs, random earth in the air) that I missed some of what God was already doing in my heart. It wasn’t until we got near the top of the mountain that I realized I wasn’t hungry, thirsty, sweating to death, or heavy hearted about my morning.
After seeing the property, our host asked if we wanted to go to his neighbor’s house to see an amazing view. After hiking for an hour and a half and only being able to see fruit flies, bamboo, and trees for days, the answer was absolutely yes. The neighbor’s home at a beautiful location overlooking, what seemed to be, the entire east coast of Costa Rica. The view was just indescribable- worth every minute of the hike. We were offered juice, a tour of his home and tree house, and water buffalo rides to the beach which we declined because of time restraints. On top of the amazing hospitality, we got to swing on a Tarzan like rope hanging from a tree on the side of the mountain that swung us FAR out over the tree line and the beach view. It was all so incredible. (I will try and post pictures… no promises)
God took care of us and my concerns in such a real, tangible, confirming way. We ended the hike with a walk by the beach, saw a sloth, and had some great conversations with our host. Our water bottles lasted us the entire 3-hour hike, and we even had a hearty meal waiting for us when we got back to our hosts house. What a reward He gave us. He is so good. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7-8
On another note- I left the apples and a note for the dealers next door- I didn’t get the opportunity to give them the apples in person. No dramatic scene or amazing testimony came from it- but that’s okay! A member of the church who knows the men said he would occasionally drop off apples from us, too. Never know what God will use. I will continue to pray for that community and the men next door. God is moving in Puerto Viejo and the seeds we planted are a part of His perfect plan.
Thank you all for your support! < 3
