Hola EVERYONE! I’m not dead…. Surprisingly! Nope just outta wifi haha you guys can’t get rid of me that easily.
Let’s do a recap of Costa Rica.
I can’t believe the first month is already over! It was definitely easy to lose myself there in that little beach town of Puerto Viejo. God not only showed up in the beautiful beaches and breathtaking sunsets, but also in my relationship with Him and others.
The whole month was a roller coaster of emotions. Trying to live with five other guys in community can be a difficult task to say the least. The devil is really good at what he does so there were some times where there was a lot of tension in the house. I’ve noticed new things about me and my teammates, and it’s been cool to see God reveal things to each and every one of us. Throughout the month, we had a lot of time to actually invest in each other. Brotherhood really does mean something to me and my teammates. This was also the first month, so of course it was going to be difficult trying to adjust to the new lifestyle Christ has called us to. But through it all, I can confidently say that we bonded in community and became a close brotherhood. This past month has been eye opening in many ways. Whether it was self-realization or actually having and feeling a relationship with the Lord, I experienced Him like never before.
This past month, I struggled with hearing His voice and felt like He was not showing up in my life the way I expected Him to. Everyone experiences God in different ways. Some people are given visions or words. Some are directly spoken to by the Holy Spirit. I’ve always loved nature. I was always outside in His beautiful creation. I was getting angry because I thought I couldn’t hear his voice. It turns out that I could see and hear the Heavenly Father the whole time. He was and is always surrounding me because I experience and see God through nature. Through the His creation: the Earth, in the sky, looking at the stars, climbing to the top of a mountain, or even as simple as sitting in the wind. I’ve always been connected with nature, so in a sense God has always been right along side me. Through it all, God has taught me to trust Him more and has truly test my faith.
I’ve found myself becoming very humbled and thankful for everything in my life. I feel really selfish and ignorant. I’ve taken so many things in life for granted, even my parents and everything they do for me. This trip has made me love and appreciate them even more. I never realized how much they have actually taught me until now- from day to day things like cooking and cleaning to my spiritual walk with Christ.
My whole life I have been surrounded by such loving and encouraging people. Thank you mom and dad for every little act of love and kindness you did for us kids. Thank you to my supporters who have encouraged me and helped me grow. All of you have helped build and strengthen my faith. It was a great first month!
