So here we are, officially on the world race and coming to a close on our first full week of ministry. Sometimes it still doesn’t even feel real. We have all been preparing for this for so long and now this is our everyday reality.
We arrived in Costa Rica last Wednesday and it just so happened that we have arrived during their rainy season. It literally rains every single day here and most days it’s not like a light shower, it’s an absolute downpour. Like, I’m talking semi-flood status up in here. It rains so much that it is pouring into the school where we live and teach. We have placed buckets and trash cans all around the school to try and catch it so it doesn’t flood everything. But still, every morning we go downstairs and mop up all of the water that has flooded the sanctuary.
Now, I will come back to why this out pouring of rain is significant for our team but I need to give some back story first. While at training camp and even launch, much of the topic was about how to bless and serve others well. We talked a lot about giving our whole selves to our ministry and our team. Like, A LOT lol. I know for me, by the time launch was coming to a close, I felt as if I couldn’t receive much more training. I was just ready to get out there and do the thing! I felt prepared and I felt ready. I had been praying for quite some time, long before the race that God would strip me of myself and break my heart for what breaks His. I would even say that I have probably been in a season of sorrow; Almost seeking out brokenness. In many ways, I think that I thought the only way that I could grow in intimacy with Christ was to be stripped, broken, and weakened. While I do believe that is definitely a way God can draw us near to Him, Costa Rica and Christ have busted up and turned my expectations on its head. From the moment we have arrived at ZOE, we have experienced an absolute downpour of love from the people here. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our first month on the race is here at ZOE. The people at this church and school have welcomed us with open and warm arms. They have made us feel truly part of this family. They constantly pour into us and speak Gospel truth over us. They choose to disciple us daily and walk along side of our team in ministry, teaching, and encouraging each of us in the abilities God has placed in us. Everytime my cup gets filled up, another downpour of love comes crashing down. They include us in everything. They have invited us to every event that is hosted, they have a different person everyday to do devotions with just our team, they have meetings set aside to ask our opinions on future ministry visions that they have had, they ask us to dinner multiple times a week, they cook with us, they hang out and play cards with us, they just do all of life with us. Y’all, we are loved SO well here. We came to minister and serve them and most of the time it feels like we are actually their ministry. Our team talks a lot about how the physical downpour of the rain in this place feels symbolic to what we are experiencing spiritually through the Father during our time here as well. There is such a flood that we don’t know what to do with it all. We are running out of buckets to place under the downpour!
I came into the first month of this race wanting to be broken so I could obtain more intimacy with Christ but He has been caring and mending the old wounds of my heart to bring me into intimacy with Him instead. This short time has already shown me how much I have boxed God in. His outpouring of blessings and the sweet restoring of our hearts is powerful and glorifies the Father just as much as when we are crying out before Him in weakness and lament. He has been building our team up during the time here and I think that is significant. I believe that God is strengthening our minds and our hearts so that we may have the endurance and the faith to finish this race, to persevere.
Something we talk about quite a bit at Adventures is that, “Free people, free people”. We are not able to be light in this world if we are still living in bondage to darkness ourselves. How can I help free people from their chains if my hands are still tied? We must walk boldly and confidently in His grace. We must truly know where Christ states our identity lies and to believe wholeheartedly that we have the power of the Holy Spirit guiding and fueling us. These truths cannot be stolen away regardless of how we may feel or circumstances we encounter. If we do not believe these truths ourselves, how do we ever expect for the people we are ministering to to believe them as well? THIS is what God has been preparing in my mind and my heart during my time here. I have been learning confidence in Him and empowerment because of His spirit dwelling inside of me. And because of how much love and discipling we are receiving here at ZOE, God is mending ALL the pieces of our hearts. So that we may go out and truly love others well.
I’m excited to continue sharing with you all what God is doing through our team and the ministries we partner with this year. Thank you for following and being part of this journey with me. More updates to come soon! Also, I’m still around $3,000 away from being fully funded and to remain on the field this year. I would be so grateful if you would prayerfully consider supporting me to continue life on the race.
Much love fam,
Jordan
