What happens when something is so big, so strong, and so powerful that it can’t be contained? It eventually bursts and breaks forth.
This month, we’re working with the Christian Light Foundation, a ministry that brings God’s light to one of the darkest places in Costa Rica. So you can understand what this means, let me first explain the darkness. The city we’re in is called Desamparados, meaning “The Helpless,” which is telling enough… but on top of that, we’re staying in Los Guido– a slum in this city. Eighty percent of kids in Los Guido are abused in some form. We heard the story of one of these young girls… she learned about Jesus at this place and knew John 10:10 about having life to the full and John 3:16 about how great God’s love is… and she asked, “If these things are true, why doesn’t God go home with me at night?” This feeling is reality for way too many kids here. Drugs are sold on many street corners, gang violence is common, and prostitution is legal. Two kids were recently killed in the crossfire of a fight. Many taxi drivers refuse to come to this area, and sometimes buses don’t stop here. One night, we heard at least sixty gunshots off in the distance, and all I could do was picture the kids we hang out with at our ministry site and wonder which ones were hiding in a corner as a gun battle raged on outside their home. It wasn’t the first night we heard gunshots, and it probably won’t be the last. We’re staying inside a gated area and are locked in after 6:00pm. On the streets, there’s this tenseness in the air… like a mixture of fear and a loss of hope. It’s a dark place.
But in the midst of this darkness, there is a place where light shines. It’s called The Finca, the gated area in which we’re staying and the center for much of the ministry that the Christian Light Foundation does. Every morning at 11:00, kids come running through the gate for their only hot meal of the day. This place is more than a feeding center though; it’s a safe-haven for kids. Crossing under that gate is like stepping out of a world of violence and fear and into one where childhood is allowed to be happy, one where love abounds. Kids play soccer and have hula-hoop contests; they color pictures and paint each other’s nails; they jump in puddles with the biggest smiles on their faces as the rain pours down; they race down a slip-n-slide into the mud; they giggle as we spin them around; they jump into our arms and hug us; and they stay until the very last minute possible… just being kids. Most importantly though, they see the love of Jesus. This is the real reason that light shines so brightly in this place. Some kids meet Him for the first time here, and others are reminded of His presence and love every single day when they’re here. His love, His comfort, His protection, His goodness… this is why kids run, play, smile, and laugh the kind of giggle that comes from deep in their bellies and warms your soul– it’s the most beautiful sound in the world. There is no other way to explain the happiness these kids show at The Finca despite their situations. The atmosphere literally feels different inside versus outside of these gates. I’m beginning to see that it isn’t poverty that makes a place dark but rather a lack of light, and in this case, that light is Jesus.
But there is so much hope for Los Guido, this slum of 50,000 people who seem to be trapped in darkness. Why? Because God’s love is that “something” that is so big, so strong, and so powerful that it can’t be contained. It’s already shining brightly inside these gates, but it can’t be held inside. I think it’s only a matter of time until the gates of this place burst open and this love breaks forth to flood the lives of these people. And every time we show God’s love or speak about what He did for the world, we’re rattling the gates a bit more… until the hinges break off and His love is like a tidal wave crashing over this place. There is such a profound difference between a life with God’s love and a life without it, and He wants every single person in this world to know His beautiful, powerful, and unconditional love. That’s why we’re here despite the danger. Because God, who could do this all on His own, has allowed us to be part of His story. He is SO GOOD.
Please pray that God will soften the hearts of all the people we are meeting in Los Guido so that they come to know God’s unimaginable love and the sacrifice He made to save them. Please also pray for protection for these children. Prayers are so powerful, and God always hears them. Thank you!
Below are two pictures from this month: they gym we’re all staying in and the mountaintop view of Los Guido!
