I never knew how possible it was to fall in love with a small community so quickly until I step foot in Costa Rica. Los Anonos, a community overflowing with beautiful people and a whole lot of God absolutely stole my heart. I was a little nervous about going on a short-term mission trip as sometimes they can be seen to do more harm than good, but the Lord had so much in store. The people of Los Anonos are precious gifts and those eight days blew me away. From painting a mural, to playing in the water with a bunch of joyous kids, to riding on the back of a motorcycle with bare feet, God continued to surprise me with His goodness and love for us.
The entire week I had the deepest desire to keep picking up the bible. To just dig a little deeper in truth, and to let Him work in me. Sometimes I think we can overcomplicate what we read, and I think we forget to read scripture and take it for what it is, for what it says. Sometimes I think we read absentmindedly, forgetting that it all actually happened. To read His word with a burning desire to grow closer to Him can be when we gain the most in our relationship with Him. The stories are real, and His words are truth. While in Costa Rica, I attended a small house group. We read through scriptures in Romans and Matthew. The way my Tico friends talked about it was astounding. It was like they were talking about something that happened just yesterday, I mean that’s how real it is to them. It was sort of a convicting moment for me as I had to ask myself, when I read His word do I read it lightly or do I envision myself right there alongside Jesus? When we read with a passionate craving to draw closer to Him instead of just reading because it’s the “Christian thing” to do, it’s crazy the difference you feel within.
Our God is incredible and so purposeful. He brings us in connection with people all over the world. He places people in our lives who don’t even speak the same language as us yet they steal our hearts with one simple hug. All week, I felt His blessings pour over me with every new friend I met, every new relationship that started to grow. Serving in Costa Rica had nothing to do with me and everything to do with Him. The projects my team and I did, don’t have our names attached they have His. It was a joyous week as I learned that giving glory to our King is the most exciting path we could ever follow.
Los Anonos is an insanely beautiful community. Whether I meet my Tico family again in a few years or whether we reunite in heaven one day, they will forever hold a piece of my heart. I left Costa Rica with a sense of pure joy and refreshment. I left with a newfound burning passion to dive deeper into His word each morning. I left with my heart filled to the brim with new stories filled with laughter and authenticity. I left with the confirmation that the World Race is His next adventure for me. I learned that His desires for us are never ending and surely full of spontaneous wonder. Thankful for meeting new brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s a joy to follow the most gracious King. May we glorify Him for all our days!
{ “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:18 }
