Costa Rica is a beautiful place. I have only been here one week and have already fallen in love with the country. The views, the towns, and most importantly the people are amazing. Before coming here I thought that Texans were the most friendly people on the planet; however, after being welcomed into this place I have to say that the Ticos are a close runner up. From the individuals in our ministry to the bystanders on the street to the people driving down the freeway who honk and yell, “Gringos!” Everyone here is very friendly.
We landed in San Jose on Wednesday and got to the base around 4pm. The base that we are living on is phenomenal. It consists of rooms with bunkbeds, hot showers, a big back yard, and an amazing cook named Xinia. We are living in close community and it has been awesome to be able to grow closer to everyone on my squad.
We started ministry last Friday at Abraham’s Project, a daycare facility for young children whose mothers have to work during the day. This ministry consists of playing games with the kids in the morning accompanied by a skit with a biblical message. After we hang with the kiddos we go and do either construction on phase 2 of the project, or work in the garden with Luis. The construction workers, along with Luis, are amazing people who will make up an entire other blog soon! On Saturdays, we go to cell groups, which are essentially small church services help in garages around town, where we get to worship and talk about the gospel with locals.
God has been radically moving in my personal relationship with Him as well. To say a little, God has shown me the difference between faith and entitlement. I have had this perception that if I believe God to do or provide something, it sort of becomes my right to it. For example, if I ask God to move in a friends life, and then have faith that He will do it, then I deserve to see it happen. On the contrary, I have no rights! I surrendered them all when I said yes to following Christ. God revealed this to me in Hebrews 11:13 – “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar…” My faith in God should be accepting to the fact that I may never see a promise. In this, entitlement disappears and true faith in God abounds. God told me that when “I desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one,” He is “not ashamed to be called [my] God, but has prepared for [me] a city” (11:15-16). Oh He is so good!
This is pretty much a shortened version of what life here in Costa Rica has been like so far. I just wanted to update y’all on what we have been apart of, and I promise to go into more detail on some of these things soon!
Pura Vida!
