Wow these past weeks have been packed with lively ministry, wild adventures, Jesus and sweet memories
Half my squad and I had the opportunity to serve many different communities around Puerto Viejo! We Just recently traveled to a community called Suiri (pronounced like Sweetie:) We drove 40 minutes on bus, took a super cool boat over the river, rode in the back of a pick up to the small church base of this community.
We met the pastor and his wife of the church, Casa de fe (house of faith), and a few sweet ladies from the neighborhood who helped cook!
We planned to have a day of inviting people to church, manual labor, a kids ministry day, a youth night, Church service, Sunday school for the kids and a women’s day!!! Wowza! We had a packed 5 days!
Day one, we walked to every house on the street and invited everyone to this eventful weekend!
Sammy and Steven are 2 YWAM staff who came with us and organized all the events planned. They are incredible leaders. They are so bold and courageous for leading a group of 15, young adult girls into the mountainous jungle for 5 days!
Sammy is 19 and was the only translator the whole time. He crushed it! Steven is 20 and is from Suiri! His family lived across from the church! He was so kind introducing all of us to his friends and family. The patience and endurance these young men had the whole time was so encouraging. They live their lives striving to look like Jesus and to bring the kingdom to everywhere they go!
Here’s the summary of the amazing weekend!!!!
We had such a fun day with the kids! We had fun games like musical chairs and Jesus dice (Jesus says, like Simon says:). Soccer, face painting, and brackets making and a Bible skit! During kids ministry, you really have to just go with the flow and make sure no one is bleeding. Its a crazy time, but kids are such a blessing to be around, I had a blast!
The church service was a banger. A few girls in my group stepped up and led every worship time! With Spanish songs!!!! And my teammate Mary led the sermon:)
Me, grace and my squad leader lead the Sunday school! So many kids came, it was so beautiful to see so many young faces! We had a Bible lesson, games and songs! We came up with all this the night before, but it all worked out. God was there, helping us out.
Then we drove into another community farther away. all 15 of us hopped into the back of the pastors son’s pick up truck. It was super hilly, with beautiful views and a cool mountain breeze blowing in our hair. I was having the time of my life, gripping the side of the truck, trying not to fall out when we hit a hole in the road. We drove over little rivers, and on miles of gravel roads. Half an hour later, we got to our destination!! The beautiful riverside! We got to sit next to a river, on cool, big rocks, eat watermelon and papaya and have women’s ministry. How cool is that? Thanks God. Wowza! Me, my team leader Alex and sweet Kate led this time!! I spoke about how do you see yourself v. how God sees you. Shared some stories about women in the bible and then I got to share part of my testimony. It was such a cool time.
It was so peaceful. Everything about it was beautiful. It was also one of the most beautiful places I have been too.
Unfortunately we had to leave.
But we got to go back to the church base and enjoy time laughing, talking and eating with the pastor and the amazing woman who served us!
That fellowship time was really full and encouraging.
The people of Suiri love so well and are so hospitable.
Everyday they served us with a big smile on their faces.
Thank you Jesus.
What an incredible time:)
Thank you Abba for Suiri.
Lets lift our brothers and sisters up in prayer!!!!
Prayers for Suiri:
• The pastor, his wife and their son to stand firm in their faith and Be strong and Courageous
• The church: Safety, growth and more leaders to rise up
• For the community of Suiri to have discernment and hear the voice of the Lord
• For the families in the community to grow in unity and grow in a relationship with the Lord
• For the community to have hope and for the next generation to grow up knowing and loving the Lord
• For more missionaries to be called to Suiri
Thank you all for your prayers!!!
love love love you all:)
