In the children’s laughter echoing off of the cement walls. Through each of my teammates saying “Gracias,” to the bus driver every time we ride into town. When our host eagerly requests to spend two mornings a week leading devotions with our squad, giving of his own free time. Watching the light turn on in a little girl’s eyes when you ask if she wants her nails painted. The majesty of Jesus Christ (as our Host, Mark, refers to these instances) is prevalent throughout each day if we just look around our month of ministry here in Costa Rica… but you have to be looking.
The reality here is that there is poverty unlike anything I have ever seen. Sheets of tin operate as walls that enclose a dirt floor area no bigger than the pantry in many American houses. These “homes” here in Los Guido are practically stacked on top of one another and hold many more heads than “beds”. There is a shadow cast over this slum that requires constant love and prayer combat. It can make the strongest of hearts cringe as you watch little kids come running to the center where we are stationed this month, knowing that 80% are experiencing abuse of one form or another in their homes. You may even begin to think God feels too far away from this place.
Why then, is this the place that I felt the Holy Spirit move like I haven’t experienced since before embarking on the Race? God’s presence is so beautifully manifested in this seemingly dark and hopeless area of Costa Rica called Los Guido. This month, my entire squad is together for ministry doing various projects such as working in the schools, playing with the kids who come to the feeding center (known as the finca and also the place we are staying), and we even have an entire team dedicated to prayer. My team helps maintain the finca through daily chores, and also has the privilege of playing with the kids at the feeding center 6 days a week. All I can say is ahhh mi corazon!! These precious faces, so full of joy, come sprinting over the hill each day to eat their one hot meal for the day and then race on to play with us. I hear God’s voice through the constant giggles and screams that can only come from pure child bliss. I see God provide safety and comfort through an older sibling taking the hand of their little brother or sister because with parents absent in one form or another they take on that caretaker, parental role. I taste God’s love through the lunch that is prepared and served for us daily by some of the most joyful servant hearts I have ever met.
Thank you Jesus for being more than something we are feeling. Thank you for your Presence, even as we walk through this life unaware of your all encumbering Holiness- How you hold each and every one of your children pressed to your heart. It would be easy to walk through this place and wonder, “Where is God in all of this pain and suffering?” “It feels so dark here- I can’t feel where there is God.” That would also be a tragic mistake in limiting our Heavenly Father to a place that ebbs and flows with our own emotions; for He is much much more than that. When we open our eyes to the light of Christ that is all around us, it is actually a quite staggering realization.
The depths of my soul call out to the heavens with gratitude that we are allowed access to experience the Presence of God whenever we should choose to look… And even more so for the gift of Presence even when we don’t look. It is not a question of when or where, but rather a question of our own awareness.
In the two months since being on the Race, there have been many amazing memories. God continues to bless my squad with so many opportunities to experience His love in action, and I am so thankful for all who have been a part of that! All the prayers and blessings are truly felt, and I want to shout a big thank you to you all! I look forward to continuing to share these moments of majesty with you all!
