Oh friends. I’m currently sitting a table in a garden café in Granada, Nicaragua with iced coffee and dear friends, and I couldn’t be more relaxed or grateful for this setting. Breeze, birds chirping…I may actually fall asleep…
It’s been quite a past 24 hours. Our entire squad met up last night at the bus station in downtown San Jose (it was such a joy to see everyone again!) and we departed at 10:00pm for Nicaragua. One of our team’s favorite people from our ministry in Costa Rica – Luz – actually joined us for the trip, as she has family in Nicaragua and was able to assist us with crossing the border seamlessly. It was such a treat to have Luz for a few hours longer, but it was equally as hard to say goodbye this morning! She is a special soul.
But back to our trek to Nicaragua…we took a bus to the border, where we arrived around 3:45am, pulled our sleepy selves out of our seats and into line to wait for the opening time of 6:00am.
After we all made it through customs and into Nicaragua, we boarded the bus for the final few hours to Granada, a charming colorful colonial town on Lake Nicaragua. For the next few days, we have debrief here. We’ll rest and prepare for the upcoming months, and we’ll process what’s happened in us and in our teams over the last month. I didn’t realize how much I was craving rest and quiet until we sat down here a couple of hours ago!
Right now, though, I want to share some thoughts with you on our month in Costa Rica. At the end of each month, I’m going to write about one word that describes the month – it may be a word that defines the people, the country, or what the Lord has taught me there. It will take a couple of posts to explain my word for Costa Rica, so I’ll begin here and finish up tomorrow or the following day.
The word for Costa Rica is generoso, or generous. It was an easy pick. The entirety of my stay in Costa Rica was permeated by acts of generosity toward me and toward my team. Our Costa Rican neighbors and friends, our pastor, our ministry hosts…they gave and gave and gave…of their time, their resources, and their hearts. The Lord outpoured His generosity upon us and our time there as well. My team showed generosity to one another. And many of you showed great generosity toward me in how you have supported me financially and in prayer. A generous heart is truly a reflection of Jesus and is such a beautiful thing. It is central to our faith.
In my next post, I’ll tell you specific stories…specific acts of generosity from our time in Costa Rica. They were plenty, and my hope is that these stories of generosity inspire you (and me) to give of ourselves the way we’re called to give. There is SO much joy in giving. 1 Timothy 6:19 says, “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
“Pura vida” indeed.
Other notes: Many of you have been praying for the lump under my arm that continued to grow through last week. I have great news! It’s nearly gone! Praise God! Such a relief.
I’m giving up social media and soda while we are in Nicaragua. A break from both will do my heart and body good. If you’d like to reach me, please give me a call on Skype (@erikanpaul) or email me at [email protected].
Thank you all for your continued support and for having generous hearts!!
With love + joy,
E
