Hi friends!!! Coming to ya from Costa Rica! Just a little update on what has happened in the span of this past week. Just a little over a week ago I was in the Hilton Hotel in Atlanta for launch saying goodbye to my parents for 9 months. For whatever reason the emotions didn’t hit me at all…(until I was walking down the street of Atlanta to a Waffle House and I broke down…awkward…hey when it hits you, it hits you).
September 9th at 2 am my whole squad and I met in the downstairs lobby to catch a bus to the airport where we flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After a 4 hour layover, we said our last goodbye to the USA and flew to San José, Costa Rica! When we landed, 2 buses picked us up, one for our packs and the other for my squad. ha! That bus ride revealed one thing to me; they don’t mess around in the streets here. You either move or get hit. Motorcycles constantly swerving in between buses and cars while men walk miniature ponies down the sidewalk. After our 30 minute drive, we arrived at our beautiful home for the next 3 months. seriously, this place is crazy beautiful!
Our backyard overlooks the mountains where we have witnessed insane sunsets. The first two days here in Costa Rica we spent resting and recouping. We had cultural orientation so we understood what was appropriate and inappropriate to the people here. Kevin, our awesome ministry host, gave us a tour of San José which meant we were granted the ability to leave the base and explore wherever. Don’t worry dad, we have to stay in a buddy system of four or more(: ya girl is safe!
Ministry started last Thursday. That looks different for every team. Some teams are working with food banks and visiting prisons while the others do manual labor. My team, xápa (Greek word for joy), is working with an organization that allows us to minister to women who are active in prostitution. Friday night, thirteen of us piled into a van with coffee and cookies to pass out. We spent hours on the streets of downtown San José with victims of sex trafficking and the homeless. It’s one thing to be told about it and try to mentally prepare what you are going to see but then to actually go out and witness it is completely different. It was very eyeopening. Most of the prostitutes in Costa Rica are transgender. They are very looked down upon, so for us to have the opportunity to show love and smiles was exciting. Our first stop was on the side of a curb where we saw two women. We pulled the van over and some of us got out to give them some coffee and to try having a conversation. “What’s your name?” “How long have you lived in Costa Rica?” “Do you have family here?” this was usually followed by them asking what we were doing in Costa Rica which was a great avenue to witness. We ended every conversation by asking if we could pray for them. Most said yes. I was most nervous for the language barrier. You think you know some Spanish until you move to a country where it is their first language and they talk at a million miles per hour (much like we do). It was helpful having ticos (Costa Rican men) there who would speak to the women and translate to us what was being said. Those of us who didn’t go on the streets would stay in the van and just spend time in constant prayer. One woman on the street said she would meet with myself and another girl on my team, Madison, for coffee. She’s going to teach us Spanish and we’ll teach her English. I’m excited to build the relationships with these women and tell them of a Father who loves them despite everything. A Father who calls them beloved, worthy, and sees them as His daughter. We start back at ministry tomorrow where we will continue working with the women and doing anything we can to help.
Thank you Jesus for entrusting my team with this. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you that this my life and allowing me to be a small part in furthering your Kingdom.
most evenings have looked like this. painting. coffee. and family.
actual footage of two hand washing pros!
To everyone back home – thank you for your constant prayers and messages! I love you all so dearly.
As always, thank you for reading about what the Lord is doing in my life and here in Costa Rica. More updates to come!
Much love,
Brittney
