Hey everyone!
You might have noticed that I haven’t posted a blog in a while. Well I’ve tried to post blogs, written them out and as I went to post them I just felt God say not to for whatever reason. I’ve prayed about it and sat with it and I think it’s because it became a item on my checklist.
The blogging platform is meant to communicate with people at home the things God’s done in our lives while on mission. They suggest we post once a week but to me that means I NEED to post once a week. The blogs I’ve wanted to post weren’t fake and came from a genuine place but I look back now and see that maybe I was writing about whatever first came to mind and was easy to write about and not what God was really putting on my heart. AKA I wasn’t being still and really listening.
For this blog I wanted to write about the difference between our last ministry and the one we’re at now and how most of my squad feels more comfortable/closer to God here than there. Our last ministry had a lot of comforts we have at home, our ministry hosts were the sweetest, and the actual ministry we did put us at the heart of the community. My squad loved our last ministry but they prefer it here, I was confused. Why does life feel so different here? Why do they prefer it here? Why am I impartial?
At first, I thought it was just because it met their expectations of what they thought the trip was gonna look like but I think it’s more then that. At our last location we had essentially private bathrooms, the grocery store, beach, and coffee shops within walking distance. At our current ministry, we all share a bathroom and shower. The closest city is 30 minutes away and we all sleep in the sanctuary of the hosts church. It’s a different way of life.
We’ve been here for over 2 weeks now and I think I’ve come to an understanding. Here in Vigía we naturally just have to choose into each other, the community, and our ministry for our way of life to work. Whereas in Jacó we had to actively try and do that ourselves. Let me tell you it is a lot easier to do with less distractions.
We have an amazingly simple life, we wake up at 5:30a to get ready for breakfast and to start work at 7. We work for a few hours then have a fruit break at 10 then lunch at 12ish. Then we have team time, quiet time, and coffee and cards time at 2. Then we usually head to the park to hang out with everyone there. We get to see the same sweet faces everyday and really get to grow in our Spanish and love for one another.
In my mind, this is the true definition of “Pura Vida,” which directly translates to “pure life.” I have a tremendous appreciation for both of our ministry locations. I feel like God has shown us different things at each place.
At our first ministry it was how to love one another through difficulties, how to choose into others with the distractions of life, and how important it is to be still to hear Holy Spirit. So far here in La Vigía (30 min from Nicoya) I’ve seen the beauty in having no distractions, trying serving our hosts just as much as they serve us, living in a community that all feels like family, and how with God no matter your way of life you’ll be fulfilled and live in Joy.
Join me in a prayer:
Thanks God for your grace, for being all knowing, and for being in control. Thanks for each and every blessing you give and for the things you take away.
Amen
Love, Cass
