This month my team has been in Costa Rica helping with an organization called Transforma. We have supported them in various ways and various projects…including hospitality, child care, website testimonials, prayer walks, house visits, manual labor, cleaning out a laundry closet… and anything else that we can do to help come alongside them in their efforts to transform women’s lives.
Transforma is an organization that provides education to teach women in low poverty, certain skill sets such as sewing, massage therapy, manicure/pedicure, or entrepreneur classes. This will help the women by giving them an opportunity to earn a living utilizing these new skills or pursue a method themselves. It literally transforms their lives by giving them a hope and dignity to rise above their hardships and strive for success while also receiving a community of other strong women.
My favorite part of this month, though, has been visiting these women in their homes, meeting their families, and praying with them. It provides an encouragement to them, but equally, if not more so, to me.
On one occasion, we went to a place called ‘Little Nicaragua,’ and spoke with a woman about her life and family. It was amazing to see how much joy and light she carried in the midst of all the hardships she continually goes through daily.
This woman asked that we speak to her son, an 18 year old who struggles with trying to find a job amongst friends who sells drugs. I felt called to share a part of my story with him; a part of my story where I had to rely on God to provide for me. There was a time in my life where I was surrounded by darkness from my job choices and life decisions. When God calls you to quit your job, you quit your job. I got a word from the Lord to tell this young man. The word I received was “choice.”
He would have to choose the life he would pursue, one giving into the temptations of the street, or one giving into God’s calling on his life.
I’d like to say that he chose right there with us, but he did not. I believe he felt encouraged and we prayed with him. I probably felt more encouraged than him, though, because I was obedient to the Lord and shared what he told me to without fear.
Transforma is an amazing organization that wants to help women and their families by transforming them from the inside out!
For more information, check out their website
transformacr.org
