Since stepping foot in Costa Rica, I have had this overwhelming sense of urgency and atmosphere shift overcome me. This place literally has it all. From great food to welcoming and Hospitable people, as well as darkness.
Our ministry hosts, when telling us about the Area, informed us that this place is known as the Modern day version of Sodom and Gomorrah. Just to paint a visual for you, imagine walking the streets and having guys come up to you begging you to buy weed from them if you are a guy. If you are a girl guys whistle at you and make cat calls as you walk by. Gentlemen clubs and prostitution are evident up and down the town. People binge drink just to feel alive, and it is so heartbreaking.
“Light has entered the Darkness and the darkness has NOT overcome it.” John 1:5
The Holy Spirit highlighted this verse for me off and on since being here. One day, for ministry, our teams were split up and scattered throughout the whole city to do a city wide prayer walk. As we were praying, The Lord Spoke to me and gave me the Word HARVEST. The Holy Spirit then brought to mind a verse from the song Tremble were it says: “Your name is a light that the shadows can’t deny, your name, will not be overcome.” The Holy Spirit kept speaking to me and led me to where Jesus sends out the twelve disciples and says go into all the towns I am about to enter into, and he also tells them that the Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, so pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send workers. The Lord told me that the time for this place is now and the harvest is ready and He is about to enter in and move and that we as a squad are the Harvesters harvesting the field here and that Jesus will not be overcome by the darkness here.
Since then, we have had ample opportunity to ask the Lord and let him lead u where he desires us to be and it has been so amazing and my favorite thing so far. The Lord led my team to a woman whom God spoke to me and said to ask one of our girls to encourage her that he sees her and to pray for her because she is anxious and stressed, and yall, it moved her to tears. Yall talk about following Jesus and his leading. He met her where she was and revealed himself to her. The Lord then led us to a casino Bar and Club, which was widely known for running a prostitution ring. As we made our way inside the Lord reminded me that perfect love casts out fear, because it was a little out of my comfort zone. Stepping inside, my heart felt deeply burdened and it felt like someone was squeezing it and releasing it, and there was this pressure on it. It was like I could feel the oppression everyone there was living trapped in. My team and I made our way upstairs to a bar where 2 female bartenders were working. The 3 girls with us began speaking to them while another guy and I sat away and prayed the whole time. At one point we went downstairs to speak to some of the guys working there, but we were met with resistance and a spirit of being unwelcomed, which made it challenging to speak truth in love, however, just being able to pray over the place and that Jesus would make himself know there and convict was so good.
It is quite amazing the places the Lord will lead you when you obey him and trust him. He takes you to places you normally would not go or think he would be present in, but it is written, that the Lord is everywhere and there is no place we can go, where he is not there. Jesus came into darkness to walk among sinners in places that many people would condemn, as well as the people there. Why then, do we stray away from those places of darkness where the LIGHT is needed the most? It is written ho can someone hear if they are not told? and how will they be told if no one goes? (romans 10:14-15) The darkness will not overcome the Light, and Jesus himself says that the doctor comes to heal the sick not the healthy, and the people in those places are sick and need the Doctor. Had we not listened and obeyed then those 2 girls would have never been encouraged and encountered the Love of Jesus, and want to build on the relationship with our 3 girls. I challenge you who read this to let the lord lead you to those places of darkness where you are at, so that his light may shine, because it ill not be overcome. You never know how your act of obedience may be what leads that person to Jesus. Maybe it is reaching out the person you know who is hateful and struggling with sin. Obey and Follow where you are led and watch God work.
Yes , you can even Find Jesus in the Club!!!
