Not many people get to spend their birthday in the middle of a Costa Rican jungle with a village of Indigenous Indians. But that’s exactly what I got to do!
Our team left our quiet dairy farm in central Costa Rica and took a week long trek through the province of Talamanca to visit a friend of our ministry host. The journey itself was interesting enough. We all piled into a van and drove along the coast of the Caribbean Sea before heading up the mountain into the village on the border with Panama. The roads we drove on seemed more like footpaths, and at times, we crossed through several small rivers. You heard me right. We crossed through rivers! There were moments when our van became more like a boat than a car. But finally after nearly four hours in the van, we got out only to realize we had another quarter mile to walk in complete darkness to actually get to our host’s home.
Despite the lateness of our arrival, we were still greeted with loving arms. This family was among the most hospitable people I have ever met. They don’t have much, but God continues to provide for their needs every day.
Our only mission while we were there was to simply live life and encouragement them. The oldest son, Gama, is a teacher at the school of the village. I was able to help him teach English to his students. But teaching was only half the fun. After class was over, we got to teach the kids how to play Frisbee and spend some time sharing Jesus with them. Also, because Gama spoke English, I was able to communicate with him. I would ask him for his opinions on Jesus and how that connects with the local traditions of his indigenous village. I learned that Christian missionaries came to the village many years ago and spread the Gospel. However, local traditions of the village sometimes come in conflict with what the Bible teaches. While there are some devoted followers of Christ (like the family we stayed with), many others try to live in some hybrid between the two.
So here we were: a bunch a white people surrounded by a culture that we barely understood. But just watching them was incredible. The way they lived with so much joy, despite their circumstances, was unlike anything I had ever seen before. They lived and shared everything they had. We were welcomed as guests, but it wasn’t long before we were treated as family.
Family is a huge deal in their culture. Children have the upmost respect for their parents. Grandparents are honored even higher for their years of wisdom and understanding. And parents love their children in such an authentic way. Sometimes the whole family lives under one roof as they live day to day in simplicity.
For me, the family dynamic reminded me of a few Biblical truths. The family is supposed to model after the Trinity. The Father and the Son have a relationship of respect and devotion much as parents and children on earth should have. Jesus displays this honor when He is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
So, Jesus, even in the most emotionally overwhelming moment of His life, still looks to honor and respect His Father. After Jesus is resurrected, the Father remembers the devotion of Jesus and gives Him the place of honor by giving Him a seat at His right hand in Heaven ruling over all the powers of darkness.
And now because Christians have the Holy Spirit, we are invited in to this holy relationship. Because of Jesus’ death, the Father bestows upon us a part of the glory deserved for Christ. This is of no effort of our own. We receive this glory only because of the grace given to us by our loving Father. And in return, we are able to honor Him. We do what our Father asks us to do because He is worthy of it. He is deserving of our lives – not just because of the love He pours out on us – but simply because HE IS.
And He chooses to make us a part of His family.
