This month Team Awakening is living on the coast in Jaco, Costa Rica serving alongside Christian Surf Ministry and Horizon Church. Horizon Church is an English speaking church with many ministries that serve under its umbrella. An amazing part of this month is the opportunity to take part and serve in the many ministries missionaries from Horizon Church have all over Jaco and the greater surrounding area.
There are countless opportunities to pour out and pour in this month including:
- Leading worship in church on Sundays
- Planning and executing leadership trainings for the older youth
- Working with Seeds of Hope..an organization that works with victims of human trafficking
- Prayer meetings on Fridays
- Kids Clubs on Saturdays
- Homeless ministry on Friday nights
- Surfing and hanging with the local youth
- Helping with surf camps with the youth
- Planning events and outreach programs for Holy Week
- Creating and establishing relationships with tourists, locals, and storeowners all over Jaco
The Christian community in Jaco is simply amazing and I find it to be a true blessing from God the way we have been welcomed in. The members of Horizon Church support each other and provide a community of prayer, friendship, mentoring, and worship into their lives. We have been welcomed in with open arms to this incredible and inspiring community to the point they are opening their homes to us for dinner! This month really is a mind-blowing opportunity to be blessed and welcome such blessings for our team.
So far this month God is teaching me the importance of pouring into myself and my relationship with Him in order for me to be able to fully pour out to others. It’s a matter of balance. How many times do we truly find or even seek balance in our lives? Better yet…how many times are we seeking balance in our relationship with The Lord? I’m learning to focus on “Kingdom Work” and not relying “Busy Work” to feel fulfilled about everything our team is accomplishing.
Last month I started incorporating Meditative Thankful Prayer into my morning routine, and it has been changing my life! I sit in stillness for 10 minutes blocking out noise and distractions and thanking God for anything and everything including what we perceive as the negative. I encourage you to try it out yourself and let me know what you think!
Below is an excerpt from my journal this week:
Hillary,
These waves that you see before you…that’s Me. They’re calming, they’re soothing…flooding you with my love. It’s refreshing and cool. This month, I want you to fill up in me. Live in my presence. Seek prayer with my daily. Explore your heavenly gifts. Know that I love you. I love you so incredibly much. This month is going to be a refreshment for you. To cleanse your life…cleanse your spirit, to remember why you are on this race. Find your value and worth in me. Discover my intimacy and make the time for me. Feel my waves crashing into you. Find your adventure. Find me. Take up your cross this month and follow me. (Matthew 10:38)
Fill up. Transform. Find My Peace. Find Me.
Love always,
God
