Pura Vida! Simple life, pure life, hello, everything’s good; Pura Vida isn’t just what the locals say to each other, but rather a way of life. It’s a relaxed way of looking at things and it means being thankful for what they have not dwelling on the negative. They say you won’t truly know what pura vida feels like until you’ve been and now we know.
Our squad traveled together to Jaco, Costa Rica for another month all together in community. We partnered with a ministry called Oceans Edge Ministries. A non-profit association that aims to positively impact the world starting with their own city. We had the opportunity to work along side Oceans Edge in a variety of ways. We prayed for the businesses and people of Jaco, helped bring life to a park in one of their poorest neighborhoods, volunteered at the partnering church, told bible stories at surf club, and fed the homeless. These are just a few of the things we were able to do while in Jaco, but the Lord has already done so much. They have been turning this city around for Jesus and it shows. They have literally watch satanic buildings fall after months of prayer! They have reached out to tourist who visit. They may come to party or vacation, but they leave with Jesus. How cool is that?!
Similar to REAP, Oceans Edge is also extremely focused on mobilizing and disciplining those that they come in contact with. They facilitate this through mentoring, training, and hosting teams (like us!) at the ministry base. They sparked such a growth in me that has skyrocketed my relationship with the Lord. We had morning devotions and mentoring groups while in Jaco. An incredibly passionate woman named Stephannie walked through the Trinity and God’s character with us all while our mentor groups focused on our personal testimonies and Divine Destiny Assessments. Hannah was the creator of this assessment and it’s the first one I have loved and seen nothing but the Lord in. So much heart and thought went into making this to help people discover the gifts that the Lord has given them. Go take it!
The sun, water, and sand made me feel relaxed. The ministry made me feel alive. And the host made me feel so loved and full. I am so thankful for this life, this moment, and this place. Until next time, Pura Vida!
