Loving people wherever you are.
I think if I learned anything from my time in Jacó is a smile goes a long way. Learning the barista’s name at the local coffee shop, hearing their story, just simply loving on Him/Her makes a bigger impact than you might realize.
In the states, I was too busy to do any of that (or I made myself too busy to do that). I would just mind my own business, run my errand, grab my coffee to go, and off to the next thing.
I use to think when it came to evangelism, that I had to see that person accept Christ right before my eyes, but now I see evangelism is just discipleship to the unbeliever.
Jacó Costa Rica is known to be pretty dark. It attracts lots of tourism because of its party scene, its surf, and the sex industry there. (Prostitution is legal). So being a “tourist” in Jaco you are expected to be a consumer of one of Jaco’s many “delicacies”.
You are not expected to give love, You are not expected to invest in the lives of those around you. You are not expected to clean up the beach, scrape bird crap off telephone poles, or painting the park.
Luke 6:35 says “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”
So my challenge to you is where ever you are, whatever you are doing take 5-10 mins of your busy day, and be intentional about showing the love of Jesus Christ. Whether that is listening to the barista’s story at the local coffee shop, being super kind to the waiter/waitress serving you, or talking to that co-worker you don’t know.
So anyway, check out this video of us painting one of the local parks. This is one of the many ways we were able to love and serve the Jacó.
Photo by Bre Steindel
