I didn’t know what I was doing when I signed up for the World Race. I graduated with a degree in Sonography. The Adventure in Mission crew is not medically inclined. This is not a medical mission trip. In fact I have already done more adventurous things that might land someone in a hospital than normal. I just knew this is where God wanted me and I figured I would spend a year away from that field and share God’s love in so many other ways. He has given me that opportunity this past month. But he has also showed me that he is good and he has put me where I am for a reason.
Back in August my team was scheduled to be sent to San Pedro to work at a bible college for month one. Two weeks before launch we were moved to Jaco, Costa Rica to join another team and a different group was put at San Pedro in our place. We do not know why that happened, no one gave us the details but we all decided there was a reason we were supposed to be in Jaco.
When we got to Jaco we found out a majority of our work would be construction. As our host went over the different ministries we would be working with she said there was a pregnancy crisis center in town. I instantly perked up. ULTRASOUNDS! I didn’t know if they had a machine or where this place was, but I wanted to go. This is what I loved! How great would it be to help out there!
I let her know if they needed, I would help out anyway I could. It wasn’t until 2 weeks later that I talked to Chris, the man in charge of the center. His wife was in the states for a month and she was the one who did all the scanning. While she has been gone there were two girls that had contacted the center and wanted to be scanned. There were also two women who worked at the center and wanted to be taught how to scan. He was so excited I was in Jaco and within a night he had scheduled the two ultrasounds and talked to the women who wanted to be taught.
The program they have set up there is amazing. Teen pregnancy is a country-wide issue for Costa Rica. Christ explained the center offers free pregnancy tests and while the girls are waiting for the results they are walked through a simple trac. After that they can fill out their information and they are able to continue getting ultrasounds and walk through bible studies! With point earned from bible studies and other classes they can buy supplies they desperately need. This is the 3rd center they opened and they are planning on opening two more in other towns!
Finally the morning came!
Talk about a much needed change in perspective. The center was in the back room of a paint shop. One machine that was probably over 20 years old sat in the corner. There was a desk, one bed, and a wall of baby clothes and diapers. There was a bathroom with a shower that was full strollers. Any expectations I had would have flown out the window…if there was one.
Shock continued as my first patient showed up. 13 years old and around 23 weeks pregnant. I was sweating and in constant prayer as I tried to figure out this monster of a machine. The father of the child came with her which was a miracle of itself. That is a rare case. Usually they didn’t speak any English and I of course, speak no Spanish. The two women who were with me helped translate some. But both had just moved to Costa Rica and the conversation was extremely broken.
The next patient was 16 years old and they told me this was her 7th pregnancy. From what we could figure out she was around 30 weeks pregnant. But she also had the father along with her. Miracle number two! Actually it was a miracle in itself that we figured out how to measure the heart rate when we started.
As I pointed out their little ones features I could see there excitement and look of love on their faces. I learned the Spanish word for head-cabaya and hands-manos. My communication was limited but for that tiny amount of time I was connected with them and got to experience a small amount of life with them.
Nothing super exciting happened during that day. I don’t think any lives were transformed by the interactions made. But I was assured that God has a purpose for everything. There was a reason why I was in the World Race, there was a reason I was in Jaco.
Month One and God is already amazing me.
