Costa Rica: A New Perspective

I had been looking forward to Costa Rica on my race because it is the only country on my race I have been to before. I also had hopes of seeing my cousins Julie and Bill. Nicaragua had been a long month of moving around. It was an amazing month but tiring at times. I see now God was preparing me to be able to accept his amazing gifts. A teammate asked what kind of ministry would I love to do next month and I said “I’m praying to God that we get to do something like working with children, maybe painting or construction”. When we got our assignment I was ecstatic! We were to live and work in a Christian School, teaching, doing evangelism and youth group ministries. I was pumped! Little did I know God had so much to teach me this month. He gave me my comfort in the school setting but he opened my eyes to what being a missionary can look like and a different perspective on evangelism.

 

Evangelism. Just the word gives me a bad feeling. An internal switch flips and I’m on the defense. I’ve become very jaded by stereotypical bible thumping condemning evangelists who say you have to do xyz and recite a little prayer and sign a piece of paper to be saved. Sorry if thats how you do it but in my opinion God can show up anywhere and just by saying a prayer doesn’t mean that you know Jesus or even understand the gospel of grace. I’ve been a christian all my life and i’m still trying to understand the magnitude of jesus christ dying for my sins and the whole world. So for someone who has never heard the name of Christ to fully accept Jesus as their Savior is hard for me to believe. People need to be nutured and grow in their faith and learn about who Jesus is and was.

 

The first day in Costa Rica we had our orientation and one of our contacts Micah asked what is evangelism? In my head I was thinking “oh boy here we go.” We are going to get a list of things you need to do to be saved. I was pleasantly surprised by his repsonse. Evangelism is life. Your life should be a testimony to Jesus. The way you act and serve should say something about you. In Ezeikel 2 God says “Son of Man, all of my words that I shall speak to you, receive into your heart and hear with your ears. And come and go to the exiles, to the children of your people and you must speak to them, “Thus says the Lord Yahweh! whether they listen or whether they fail to listen.”

 

God will use you in some way if you just speak. In Isaiah 43:10 its says “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and believe in me and understand that I am he.” Our job is to get to know God and talk to people about our life and God.

 

This was a great start to our month.

 

If you didnt already know there are tons of missionaries in Costa Rica. In our small commnity there were 100 at least because we went to an Easter potluck and met most of them ha. In Costa Rica there are many missionaries who have found their own niche ministry. Street ministry, feeding programs, schools, churches, etc..

 

Pastor Rene, a Guatemalan missionary, is the leader of Zoe Future Leaders with whom we worked. Under this organization there is a school, Glory Christian School, Zoe Church, Zoe Youth, and a daughter church New Life New Glory. We got to attend or serve with all of these ministries.

 

My typical day in Costa Rica was to wake up eat breakfast and we would have a staff lead devotion, usually by Meli, the principal of the school. She is amazing. She’s real, blunt, and so knowledgable in the Word. She runs her school on the Word of God. If something happens with a student or parent she will find someway to ask is this Christ-like or how would Jesus react to this. She would never admit to saying this or wearing the braclet but she lives by “WWJD” What Would Jesus Do?

 

Thats evangelism. She asks questions about God and Jesus in her own life in that of others. She doesn’t condemn saying “You did this and Jesus doesnt like it.” No she says this is how I think Jesus lived, maybe you should think about your decisions. She is also one to own up to her mistakes even to students.

 

Her husband, Micah, whom I mentioned before has a powerful testimony of growing up on the streets to having a coworker take him to a bible study. His coworker was Christian and Micah could tell something was different in him. That is living by testimony. People will notice something is different in you when you are following the Lord. Micah was different after he gave his life to Jesus and his friends noticed too.

 

One of the coolest things I got to see is how so many missionaries use their talents for evangelism or to bless others.

 

Christine, a kinder teacher at the school, started a Saturday Street ministry in a local community called 5Corners or CincoEsquinas. She brings bible stories, crafts, games, and a snack every Saturday. She has developed a relationship with the families so when she walks through the street and yells “Buenas” the kids just come running out. She takes the children to volunteer in elderly homes and gets to share the gossip with the parents as well.

 

Meli is a jack of all trades: she’s a teacher, graphic designer, maker of?soaps, dresses, skirts, and has a website The Passionista. She blessed us with the cutest skirts while we were in CR. She heard the calling to Costa Rica and God has used her degree in Spanish and her many creative abilities!

 

Micah on the other hand uses a gift I’ve never seen before in evangelism- Dance. Micah is a popper. This is where he moves like every muscle in his body at once, he looks robotic to jello. Its so cool to watch. He even was on So You Think You Can Dance! Back to using it for evangelism. One Saturday we did park outreach where we brought a amp, ipod, and dancers. Micah and his buddies danced and drew a crowd and we talked to people that gathered. Micah stopped in between routines and simply said “We want to tell you that Jesus loves you.” Simple as that. He drew a crowd like Jesus used to and gave a short and sweet message, the gospel, Jesus loves you!

 

I have always been one to cringe at the word evangelism. But as the months go on I’m realizing that true evangelism isn’t the people screaming on the corner or the people on TV asking you to say a prayer and donate money. Nope its just sitting with people, talking, doing life with them, working with them, and being confident in your relationship with Christ. You don’t have to do all these elaborate things to share a testimony or show who God is.

 

The truth is we don’t make disciples of men or lead people to Christ. Its the Holy Spirit inside of us that is drawing that person to us or opening their ears to hear us. Rest in the Holy Spirit that is in you. Talk about God, lend a helping hand, give a smile the Holy Spirit can work through all of these things. The important thing is that you do something. The Holy Spirit moved in my heart this month but that’s a whole other blog!

 

Pura Vida!

 

Jennie

 

Also, God is so good! I got to bake for a school bake sale, go ziplining, and visit Julie and Bill!