Desires of the Lord’s Heart in Tamarindo

WOW – God is good…everyday… and everyday (come on you know you wanna say it with me) God is good!

I am afraid that my re-telling of God’s amazing work here is not going to even come close to doing it justice. I pray that the Lord gives me the words, as I invite you to come along with me to Tamarindo. A small beach town in Costa Rica.

From the moment the team arrived here, this place captured my heart. As I have said before the ocean, God’s creation, speaks to my soul. Tamarindo is a tourist hot spot. I definitely recommend it for you next get away. By the way, if you have never stayed a hostel, go for it. Last weekend we stayed at the Tamarindo Hostel… way cool!

As Eric and I chilled on the bean bags in our adopted living room watching Nicholas Cage on the big screen TV (I did say god is good earlier didn’t I) we realized how connected we both felt to this community. As we talked to our weekend room-mates we saw something new. The backpackers, surfers, adventure enthusiasts, travelers… all of them are on this outward journey. The Lord showed us that it mirrors an internal journey within each one of them. They are seekers! Just like the Word Racers. While we have been so blessed. While we are seeking to follow Jesus, we have been blessed with the conviction and the calling that is the focus of our lives. Many of these travelers, are seeking, yet,
like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind,
lacking a vision or a true call for their lives.

My wheels started to turn. “Eric, let’s plant a church in Tamarindo. How cool would it be to send a World Race team here. What about a hostel ministry. I could stay here all month just sharing the gospel with backpackers and surfers.”

Enter Valarie. I had not been out on the ocean with Valarie, my surf instructor, for more than an hour before she was asking if she could go on something like the Word Race. This community is seeking! They get it. They know there is something more. Will we, the body of Christ, answer the call to be there, to show them the way? To introduce them to the most radical extreme adventurer that even walked the planet, heck he created the planet!!!

As I prayed for this community, for Valarie, I asked the Lord, what next? I am only here a few days. Who is here, who will you send Jesus, who will answer the call to Tamarindo?

Enter Lyle and Stacey!

By divine planning, we were there at Nogui’s cafe enjoying ricotta pancakes and Costa Rican coffee (a miracle and blessing in itself as compared to rice and beans and Nescafe), overlooking a majestic ocean and deep blue sky, at the very moment that Lyle and Stacey sat down to enjoy a rare morning off together. Stacey was the first to come over the the table, “Hello, I am sorry to interrupt, my husband made me come over” she said. Hee hee. I have spent a few days with Stacey now, I don’t think it took too much prodding from him (or Him). The Lord had gone before us.

We connected instantly, that is what happens with divine appointments, The Holy Spirit goes before us and prepares our hearts, from the moment she said, “Hello” to me it was like greeting an old friend. Lyle and Stacey are from the U.S. and have lived here in Tamarindo for a number of years now. “Are you missionaries?” Stacey asked. “My husband and I are Christian missionaries working here in Tamarindo.”

Enter Jesus Christ, our lead actor! The story had already been written, the drama unfolding before our eyes. We were supposed to be in Tamarindo, at that restaurant, at that table, having that conversation that day. Lyle and Stacey joined us for breakfast. I listened to their testimony, sitting in amazement at Jesus feet, at the divine sequence of events before me. I was grinning like a little girl, so in love with the Lord my Father. Stacey shared that she leads a bible study on “Captivating” each Wednesday and that she would love for me to be there. We were leaving to head back to Belin in a few hours. “Lord, this one is in your hands, if it be your will, Lord, send me, I will answer the call.”

Wednesday at noon, Stacey arrived in Belin and we hopped into her car to head back to Tamarindo. Again, it was just like greeting an old girlfriend from college, we were sisters. United by the blood of Jesus, daughter of the one true King. I met some amazing women here.

This is Rebecca, she and Mir were at the study and are also missionaries. The Lord just poured into all of us. He blessed me with the words to prophesy and encourage many of the ladies here. He blessed us all with love and laughter! When I left on December 31st to travel the world with Jesus for a year, I never expected to be sitting in a coffee shop in Costa Rica leading a women’s group, in English, about one the the books that is so dear to my heart. (Captivating, by Stacey and John Eldridge is a must read). I never expected to be sitting at a friends dinner table, or to be holding their beautiful daughter.

Lyle and Stacey own a coffee shop here, www.cafetamarindo.blogspot.com, check it out! They invited the entire team to return to Tamarindo for our last weekend in Costa Rica. What a blessing.

We were able to have a much needed team debrief here on the cozy couches with Costa Rican coffee, not to mention they may have the best banana bread on the whole planet. They opened up the cafe for us to stay here, no charge. Again such a blessing, especially as we face the real reality of living on a tight budget this year. To be sleeping on the comfy couches of a coffee shop (really, that is like 5 star hotel compared to out ant infested tents). While much of the World Race is about abandoning all, leaving the comforts of the world behind… we are finding it is also about letting the Lord lead, about blessing others and about being blessed, it is about the Lord truly granting the desires of our hearts and providing for our every need! Mostly, I am finding that as I walk with the Lord, it is actually His desires placed into my heart that are being fulfilled. His will be done. His loving fingerprints are all over my life

Remember, God is good, everyday, and everyday (say it with me) God is good!

Please visit www.tamarindochurch.com. Drop Lyle and Stacey an email. Come and visit them in Tamarindo. Learn more about their amazing ministry here. P.S. anyone want a great place to hang out with the Lord? Learn how to surf. Enjoy Costa Rican coffee… Lyle has some amazing internship opportunities here.