The sun shined brightly through the windows. Seeing the brightness I sat up in the bed but when I looked at the clock boy did it hit me: We’re no longer in Estados Unidos. We are in Costa Rica and ITS ONLY 6AM. I groaned and quickly put the sheets back over my head only to take them off again. There was no way I could fall back asleep.
Our morning began with a brisk one-mile prayer walk to Isabel’s school, the youngest daughter of Ron and Meredith. I listened intently as their eldest girl, Bailey, shared with me that
going on a mission trip IS NOT THE SAME as living in a foreign country as a full-time missionary. Ron reiterated this point in his orientation with us later.
Ron and Meredith – Full time missionaries to Costa Rica through Soul Chasing Ministries
It’s easy for us to come to a country for a one week trip, pass out candy and toys to the children and bring a couple of people to Christ. It’s another thing to really embrace ourselves in the culture, be away from the comforts of our American lifestyle, not have reliable technology or electricity, having to put your newborn in a used vehicle that breaks down every time you turn around and still fulfill the calling you felt two years ago.
Today was a day of enlightenment for me as I saw Ron’s heart for the Ticos of Matapolo. I had joy as he shared celebrations and growth of the community and I fought back tears as he shared his need of a van. Being here for just two days it’s plain to see Ron and Meredith could benefit from a new van. This community could greatly benefit from a new van. Just to lug us around Ron has to rent a fifteen passenger van.
Tonight after a worshipful service with the Ticos, Ron so graciously used that rented van to give rides to the members. There were nearly twenty-five in the service but had the service been yesterday and Ron not had the rented van, the church would have been empty for the rain was pouring down. Most of the people in this area would have to slip and slide down a muddy, rocky path in order to get to church so many of them would just stay at home as not to get sick.
Ron gives all of himself and more to the people of Matapolo. He sacrificially drinks from their water taps and and doesn’t turn his nose up at the food offered to him from their pans. They see Ron as one of them as He has forgotten English words, embracing himself in the culture and language of these people. Because of his willingness to die to himself and follow the Lord, Ron has been invited into the homes of these people and welcomed as family. They joke with him and he with them also. Most of all they freely worship with him.
Tonight I truly felt the presence of the Lord in that community as we stood shoulder to shoulder, sweat against sweat in a tiny two room church singing and worshipping in Spanish. Ron led this worship and preached a convicting sermon from Romans 1:16 about not being ashamed of the gospel all the while coughing and sweating from a fever. He knew those people came to hear a message from the Lord and even being sick, God was using him to deliver it.
Being a missionary takes much more than giving material items to those less fortunate than us. Being a missionary is giving of yourself to people. Even if you can’t speak the language, pray and ask God to help you communicate through charades or physical touch or something. Even if you don’t understand the Spanish words to a song during worship, sing in worship and praise the Lord with words you do know. Ron and his family moved here leaving the comforts of America. They drive unreliable vehicles, live with no air conditioner, minimize their English vocabulary so that others can understand them and live far from close family and friends just to be full time missionaries. Being a missionary won’t always be comfortable but we aren’t called for the sake of comfort; we are called for the sake of Christ.
