The biggest theme that I’ve felt that God is trying to teach me this month is how to love others well and intentionality. Living with 34 other people in one house can easily lead to miscommunication, frustration and annoyance but I’ve slowly been learning how to handle it. With this being the second month of the Race I’m also still trying to figure out how to juggle keeping in touch with family and friends back home to show that I still care. Our ministry, Ocean’s Edge, has done an amazing job with showing intentionality and how to serve others well. Upon arriving the squad was met with fresh coconut water and individual scriptures that had been prayed over each of us before arrival. Instantly, our entire team felt loved and felt at home in our new compound. It’s one thing to show love by providing great hospitality(fresh coconut water) but by it is amazing when people are intentional about loving you as an individual.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)
From the scripture above we see how Jesus tells the disciples that the way they love shows others that they are Christ followers. There are multiple scriptures in the Gospels that show how Jesus was constantly serving others. Earlier in this chapter is where He washed His disciples’ feet, he also feed those who were hungry, was constantly interrupted to heal others and ultimately gave up His life for us.
Something that I’ve been trying to do to serve my team well is trying to learn people’s love language. By learning how my teammates receive love the best way it challenges me to grow in serving them in areas where I typically may not be strong in. For example, some of my lowest languages is Words of Affirmation and Acts of Service. I have been trying to serve my team by writing them encouraging letters or trying to do things for them. It sounds odd but writing out great things about a person doesn’t come naturally to me whereas choosing to spend quality time with them is when I think that I am loving them well. My teammates love letters because it shows that someone took time to sit down a write out a handwritten letter since it’s not common nowadays.
Also, as we are all running around doing different forms of ministry like manual labor, business conferences, babysitting children or working at a pregnancy center there are some days where we can feel overwhelmed and doing a small act of service for someone can mean the world to them. Doing small acts like dropping off my teammates’ laundry at the laundromat down the street for her when she had to rush to go somewhere is something small but can easily lift a small burden off of her.
I’m still growing a lot in this area (especially trying to love those back home well) but I want to grow to become more like Christ.
UPDATES
-I’m currently in Jaco, Costa Rica serving with Ocean’s Edge. Ocean’s Edge is a Christ-centered non-profit association that is committed to spreading positivity throughout the city of Jaco by partnering with multiple local businesses and small projects that help to improve the city.
-Thank you for everyone who has donated so far!!! I’m still in needs of funds to continue this journey as I’m currently funded at $10,475. My next deadline of $13,000 is due on September 30th and my grand total of $18,100 needed by November 30th. If you feel led you can become a monthly donor or give a one-time donation by clicking the Donate! button in the dashboard on the top left of my page. Every donation is tax-deductible!
