I’m currently sitting in a Starbucks, sippin’ on iced tea, connected to Wifi, in the air conditioning, overlooking the beautiful Costa Rican mountains with a McDonald’s and a Denny’s across the street. I’m not sure what I was expecting coming into my first three months of the World Race, but I’m sure this wasn’t it. Costa Rica is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been. Everything is so green and the mountains are breathtaking! It rains every single day which makes the weather nice and cool in the evening time.
Our base is located in a really nice part of town, but you don’t have to walk far to find poverty and need. In Costa Rica, poverty and wealth are intertwined, meaning that there might be one really nice house followed by three or four not so nice houses.
The people, or Ticos as they call themselves, are genuine and extremely nice, although I have no idea what they are saying to me. I’ve embarrassed myself a number of times already attempting to speak Spanish to the locals. My saving grace has been the phrase that can be an answer to pretty much anything here in Costa: “Pura Vida.” It translates to “Pure Life,” but Costa Ricans use it as a greeting, a goodbye, an answer to “How are you doing,” and many other things. It is the countries slogan and you see it everywhere.
I may not be sleeping in a tent or eating bugs, but that doesn’t mean that the Holy Spirit isn’t moving in my life individually or in my team as a whole. Just one of many examples occured last Saturday night when we attended a church service hosted by our ministry site. After the service was over Jorge, one of our ministry contacts, and a translator escorted us through the streets of Costa Rica to a small group session for people who didn’t feel comfortable attending a normal church service. The session began at 7 PM, and didn’t end until midnight. Five straight hours of worship, interrupted only by a typical Costa Rican coffee break. Each member of my team (Team Relentless) got to share a ten minute devotional during the session. I had never felt the Spirit move through a room like he did on that night. So many powerful prayers spoken both in Spanish and English; some lasting up to 30 minutes. Leaders from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the United States worshipping Señor Jesus. It brought Philippians 2:10-11 to my mind which states,
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This is just a taste as to what my life has looked like here in Costa Rica. God is so good, and His love breaks through all barriers including skin color and language. I have so much more to share, and I hope to do so soon. Thank you to anyone who is praying for me back home. I am learning to walk in the Spirit more and more every day.
¡Pura Vida!
