Leaving Nicaragua and saying, “Adiós” to my parents was tough. I loved spending a week doing ministry with them and laughing until I cried. I had missed that for sure. What I also miss A LOT are my brothers back home – both my biological brothers and my brothers in Christ. I didn’t ask the Lord to give me brothers in the different countries on this adventure… that seemed kind of weird to ask for. But let me tell ya, the Lord knew my heart when I arrived in Los Chiles, Costa Rica.
After driving for 30+ minutes down a dirt road somewhere in Los Chiles, you’ll find my home for the month. It’s a small house with about 10 bunk-beds, under a large pavilion, with an open kitchen…IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE. I’m literally surrounded by trees and daily woken up by the sounds of monkeys. As I said before, God knew my heart… this month, the Lord gave me 4 men to call “mis hermanos” (my brothers).
As all 14 of us World Racers piled out of the van, I introduced myself to 3 men and then almost got hit in the head as the other one threw our bags off the top of the van.
The other one. Juan. He was quiet and somewhat reserved, but there was something about him that made me want to know more about him. The 4 men that live here have been in some form of trouble with the law. They have messed up just like each and every one of us. Our host, who we call, ‘Papi’, along with his wife, disciple these men and give them Biblical tools to change the path that they are on. It’s been incredible to see Papi and his wife pour into these men day in and day out. I knew after just the first full day that this place was going to be very difficult for me to leave.
A typical day consists of manual labor in the jungle/rain forest and then on Saturdays, we lead Vacation Bible School at a Kids’ Club. I’ve worked with Juan almost everyday over the past 2 weeks. I’ve gotten to know him through my broken Spanish and charades of course. Juan jokes around and makes fun of my awful machete cutting skills, but applauds my broken Spanish. He imitates me as I freak out when ants run up my leg and bite me. He works not until ‘Papi dice’ (Papi says), but until the job is done. He communicates where he has struggled and currently struggles. I never knew I needed brothers this much – whether that be biological or spiritual.
Last week I worked with Juan for a few days cementing fence posts into the ground. It was then that I realized just why I was drawn to him from Day One. As he poured cement across the rocks in the square barrier and then smoothed it out with the piece of plywood, it hit me. I looked at him and said, “Tú tienes un espírito de excelencio. Yo respecto para eso. Mi papá y algunos de mis hermanos en Cristo tienen eso también.” (You have a spirit of excellence. I respect you for that. My dad and some of my brothers in Christ have that too.) He looked at me and smiled from ear to ear and said, “Gracias H” (mis hermanos call me HB, but H stuck with Juan… H in Spanish is pronounced ‘ahchay’).
How many things in our life do we do half-way, or without the spirit of excellence? We go to Target and walk past the abandoned shopping cart in the parking lot on the way into the store. Why don’t we help someone else out and push it into the store since we are going there anyways? We may leave dishes in the sink, figuring someone else will do them. Why? We may not cut that small patch of grass because it’s more difficult to get to than the rest of the yard.
Jesus calls us to live a life of excellence. Christ was and is excellent – He was and is perfect. Explain to me how it makes sense to try to be ‘Christ-like’ but yet constantly do things half-way. One of my favorite quotes is, “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.” Many WANT to go above and beyond, but only few have the endurance and perseverance to actually GO. Spiritual maturity is a path for character in which there is little progress made without the pursuit of excellence. Hear me though, I’m not saying to be perfect. That ship sailed A LONG TIME AGO. But following through with things that you speak about and doing things to the VERY BEST of your ability… Are you doing that? How can you strive for excellence in Christ on a daily basis? This month God has used Juan to resurrect the spirit of excellence in my life.
I never knew I needed Juan, but I’m sure glad God did.
***Mi hermano’s real name was not used for privacy purposes.
