Our first month of the race my team partnered with a ministry in Jaco, Costa Rica called Ocean’s Edge. We were paired with another World Race team that we worked with every day. We had the chance to help Ocean’s Edge in a variety of ways. We got involved with many different organizations in Jaco since Ocean’s Edge’s main mission is to support other ministries in the city. Our days consisted of working around the property where ministry (bible studies, worship, art classes, English lessons, business classes) events take place. It is growing extremely fast with few hands to help so it was awesome to see how thankful they were for our work. The race is really good at teaching you random skills. I learned how to build a roof out of minimal material, how to search for butterfly larva in the forest, how to get paint off of the roller in a way that washes and dries at the same time with a power hose, how to cook food for 13 people daily, how to surf, how to forge a hiking trail with a machete, that the smaller the ant the harder the bite, how to build a pretty good bonfire, how to use power tools, how to ring out clothes so they don’t take 5 days to dry and most importantly how to pray big and bold prayers.
We worked a kids camp at a park nearby on Saturdays which consisted of games, a Bible lesson and a craft. We also taught Sunday school at Radical church teaching kids of all ages about Christ’s love for them. We had a few opportunities to walk around the town and go inside businesses to gather information for the visitors website. As we were asking questions about their business (owner, employees, years open, busy seasons, etc) it was a way for us to ask if they needed prayer. Many people said “no, no I am fine.” They were so confused why we were wanting to know about their life and ask how we can help them. Ruth, the only lady that accepted prayer, had tears running down her face after asking the Lord to heal her back pain. Regardless of their response to the offer, I saw a deep longing in their eyes for meaning.That is when I realized why I am doing this. People need to know there is hope. People need to know there is a purpose in living. People need to know they have a Heavenly Father who loves and cares. I am sent to talk to the Ruth’s around the world to bring them life. People need to know about Jesus. The town of Jaco is where people visit for pleasure (clubs, bars, prostitutes, gambling) or to escape the lives they feel trapped in. It isn’t working.
Psalm 107:4-9
“Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.”
Prayer changes everything.The town of Jaco is on the break of a revival and has the potential to be a catalyst of change for Costa Rica. I am excited to watch what the Lord is going to do in the future, because He is just getting started.
An outline of Jaco for the women’s prayer meeting
A glimpse of Costa Rica’s beauty
