I stare at the mountains. They’re beautiful. There is red trees and plants I’ve never seen before. Birds fly by overhead and perfect wispy white clouds rest atop the mountains. In the sloping backyard is where I sit, swinging in a hammock, and writing this blog. Our clothing hangs on the line, slowly drying. My squadmate plays guitar in the background. Costa Rica is beautiful, but like a rose, it is not without its thorns.
I spend between three or four hours on a bumpy bus everyday. Our bus driver is the sweetest man and he takes four teams to and from ministry every day. He also is an insane driver. His foot is always on either the gas or the break all throughout the traffic of San Jose. It’s hilarious.
He drops my team off at a bus stop where we take a different bus into the slums of San José. Built around a massive garbage dump on a steep hill lies the disgruntled houses of La Carpio. La Carpio is the poor district of San José. The houses are concrete squares with sheets of metal on the roofs. There is trash everywhere. The houses go on like this all the way up and down the hill. Behind it all, garbage burns in the giant dump. The gutters are rivers of a greenish whitish trash water. It is heartbreaking. Still, there is a strange beauty to La Carpio. People fill the streets going about their business. Colorful little shops peak through the openings of shabby buildings. Clothes hang out. Cats peek through windows. Children play. Dogs run around. Fresh handmade tortillas cook on a stove top.
We get off at the last stop. Then we walk a block to our ministry site. It’s on the very outskirts of town right by the opening to the garbage dump. It is a few buildings and a soccer field sit behind a barb wire fence. (Most houses and buildings sit behind tall fences, bars, or barbed wire.) Shortly after we arrive the women and the children start coming. They come because they have no job to go to. They come to be a community and support each other. We do crafts, dance, and yoga and we are there for them in whatever ways we can be.
One of the woman gave me a card the other day. It was so sweet. It said, “A true friend is someone who shows up when everyone else leaves and stays when everyone else disappears. Thank you for being my friend.”
In this ministry we get to follow the example of our ministry host. We get to listen and be sensitive to their stories. We get to just be there for them, just a few familiar faces in a chaotic time. And even though we are only here at this ministry for two months, we can still show we care. How do my teammates and I show we care? How do we share faith at this ministry?
Sydney, Claire, and Emma show the care by taking care of the kids. The kids are troubled and really naughty. Claire patiently corrects them and befriends them. Her patience shows the love of Christ to these kids. Sydney shares her faith by walking in obedience. She volunteered to work with the kids because that’s where God was calling her. She shows up for the kids everyday, even though kids are not her strong suit. She cares for them even through all the tantrums. Emma shares Christ by bearing with the kids in love. Even though the kids can be violent, punching and screaming at each other and at their teachers, Emma determinedly loves them.
Maeci, Courtney, Braiden, and I show we care by being there for the women. We lead devotionals and care for the women in whatever way we can. We share our faith, but we know we don’t have to overcomplicate it. Maeci loves the women by holding their babies. She gives them a break and allows them to do the crafts. She also shares what God is teaching her and putting on her heart when she leads the devotionals. She uses all her limited Spanish to create conversations and asks us all how to say things so that she can hear from the women. Courtney leads English lessons and patiently teaches pronunciation. The women are thrilled for the chance to learn. She shares her heart and listens to their stories in Spanish. Braiden holds babies as well. She rocks and bounces the babies and loves them in her heart. She makes the women’s time enjoyable by sharing ideas for crafts and games, and by helping them with the crafts. I also help with crafts, I learn how to do them so I can help teach. I also try to communicate with the women, doing my best to stumble through Spanish. Sometimes, I share devotionals as well.
These are some of the ways in which my teammates and I share our faith. Sharing faith loving how Jesus loved as well as talking about who Jesus is. It’s washing feet and showing up. It’s listening as well as sharing. It’s being faithful in the little things. It’s like Pope Francis said, “Share the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” In other words, don’t have an agenda, just love others well, and share your heart whenever you can.
