Hey pals! As I write this, I am sitting in a cafe in Jaco, Costa Rica, which is where my entire squad is doing ministry this month. We arrived in Costa Rica on the 4th, we had about 5 days of debrief, and we met our ministry hosts on the 9th. Here is a bit about life lately…
Debrief
Debrief was a time to dedicated to reunite, rest, process, and prepare. Our incredible leadership team (mentor, squad leaders, and coaches) poured into our squad by allowing us to share our hearts and inviting us into vulnerability. They set aside specific times to worship, laugh, rest, fundraise, and adventure. They devoted hours to one-on-ones, and they each shared what the Lord placed on their hearts to offer us. We talked about squad values (family, diversity, creativity, celebration, and grit), and discussed what each one looks like in all of us as individuals as well as what they look like in this specific body of believers. We fought lies of comparison and shame, and we learned about what it looks like to stand up for one another against the enemy. We talked about refinement – about how it hurts to walk through the fire, but precious metals aren’t produced without heat. We sought truth, we shared hard things, we facetimed with our loved ones, we stepped out in boldness, we played in the ocean, we danced in the rain, we worshiped on a mountainside, we learned about Costa Rican humidity, we cast vision as a squad, we served one another communion…we became a more united “we.” United with each other, united with the selves we were created to be, united with our Creator.
Host
This month, we are partnering with Ocean’s Edge in Jaco, Costa Rica. Our hosts are incredible. The day we arrived, they showed us to our rooms, and welcomed us to our intro meeting with smiles and fresh coconuts – it’s been uphill ever since. These women are kind, passionate, and are discipling us so well with small groups, mentors, morning workouts, and squad devos. They keep us busy with so many ministry opportunities, but they also check in each morning to make sure we are healthy – spirit, soul, and body. Our squad has already learned so much about hospitality, ministry, and God – Father, Son, and Spirit.
Ministry
For ministry this month, our squad is split into several different groups based on spiritual gifts, talents, personalities, and passions. One ministry project is to launch a campaign called We Are 611 (like our page here!). The purpose of this ministry is to promote a better and brighter Jaco by highlighting positive social movements happening in this community. It’s an incredible opportunity to build relationships and minister to individuals outside the church! Another group is serving our ministry host and the church we partner with by offering their creative talents and painting beauuuutiful murals. Also, several women on my squad get to visit the local pregnancy center to love on the mamas, cuddle some babies, and serve the staff by helping clean and fold and lighten their workloads however else they are able. Another ministry, still, is spending time in a town nearby, creating a park where locals can come cultivate an atmosphere of family, play, and community. We are using donated tires and paint to build this park, while also talking with parents and playing with kiddos who stop by to see what is happening. Also, every Wednesday night we go out in small groups to pray over the city and ask the Lord for divine encounters with the women working on the streets. Our hope is to bring them hope through prayer and building relationships with them while we are here. Some other projects include maintenance around the place we’re staying, training the Ocean’s Edge pup, babysitting our hosts’ littles while they go on date nights, offering business workshops, teaching Sunday school classes, volunteering at youth group, and hosting kids’ clubs.
Fundraising
I am currently 77.3% funded, which means we have just $4,108.66 left to raise by November. That means that if each person who receives this email donates $37.35, I will be fully funded! Y’all, that actually blows my mind. This process has been exhausting, exciting, frustrating, freeing, hard, and so, so hopeful. I truly cannot thank you enough for how you have supported me thus far, and I am super stoked to keep sharing this journey with y’all as it continues to unfold. Please consider supporting me financially, and please consider inviting others to do the same! Thank you so, so much!
Prayer requests and praises
Squad unity – that it will continue and that it will grow deeper
That we will receive the materials and money we need to finish the park, and that we can continue building relationships in the community
That #weare611 (#somos611) will ignite and spread all over Jaco, promoting positivity and light and hope in the city known as “the Vegas of Costa Rica”
Renewed strength, energy, motivation, humility, and joy in each day of ministry, scheduled and unscheduled
Fundraising
So many relationships have already been fostered with locals in Jaco and in Playa Azul (the park community), and we’re so excited to continue pouring into those individuals – pray that the conversations are Spirit-led
We are being loved so well by our hosts – pray that we will be motivated and reminded to love them well, too
We’ve been blessed to have our amazing mentor, Allison, with us the past couple of weeks
We’re blessed to have our amazing squad leaders, Katie and Rachael, with us through December
We’re blessed to have an amazing woman named Theresa come out to activate us and lead us in evangelism for the next couple of weeks, too
Life lately has been incredible. It’s been sweaty and vulnerable and tiring and celebratory and eye-opening and adventurous. Living in intimate community in close quarters with lots of people is hard and humbling and fun. Serving in different communities in different capacities with so many different personalities? Also hard and humbling and fun. Learning how to live a Spirit-led life in the arms of Father by the example of Jesus? Same. What an adventure this life is.
Here’s a few photos of community, team, and adventure:
Love you all bunches!
