Three days away from what has become our home this month meant packing up, taking three buses, and tenting in a rustic church in rural Alajuela. More manual labor.
Our alarms went off at 5:30 a.m. We had prayed for supernatural rest and strength. Many of us had been feeling on the verge of sickness, tired and worn out, and just done. Yet, we woke up renewed. Ready and invigorated to take on the work ahead of us. An answered prayer.
Trudging from bus stop to bus, loading and unloading, I prayed that God would sustain me. As we rode higher into the mountains, I looked out the wide window and saw the hillsides covered in green. Lush, wide-spread agriculture filled my view. The beauty of God's creation continues to meet me at every turn and I am stunned. It never gets old. This land of Central America is filled with beauty.
We got to work right away. Shoveling, lifting, dumping, and raking dirt. Mixing, shoveling, passing, dumping, and spreading concrete. We dubbed ourselves the "Bucket Brigade". Great team work, plenty of laughs, buckets of mud and concrete.
After a full day of work and the anticipation of another full day coming, we had some rest and then a worship service with the church community. We gathered on wooden chairs, surrounded by our tents and sleeping bags, lifting our hands in praise and hearing important truths. The pastor's wife, Rosemary, delivered an encouraging word directed to us, the World Racers.
She spoke of the news of freedom in Central America when Guatemala declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Guatemala not only proclaimed freedom from Spain for themselves, but for all the Central American countries. News did not reach Costa Rica, however, until a month later.
The most interesting part of this story was how the news was spread.
From Guatemala, news was passed by written word. A designated courier passed this news on from country to country. Starting in Guatemala, to El Salvador, then Honduras, through Nicaragua, and finally the news reached Costa Rica. Along with the written news of freedom, the man also carried a torch. When the news was passed and the next man was given the assignment of spreading word of independence, the torch was handed over.
This hit me as a beautiful and powerful illustration. Light goes with freedom. The torch is passed and a responsibility comes along with that freedom.
Take the word.
Carry the torch.
Share the good news.
Celebrate!
Just as Central America gained freedom in September of 1821, we receive freedom when we receive Christ. No more fear. No more condemnation. Joy, even in the hard stuff!
It is our responsibility to tell others and to carry the light to the places that have not yet heard. Just because my World Race is ending in about 10 days, it does not mean my race is finished. I am still living this life for my God and Savior.
I will carry the torch wherever He sends me with the the freedom and joy I have been given.
Team and ministry photos courtesy of Amy Dillman
