Launch training, fly from Atlanta to San Jose, C.R., pack into a suburban, stay the night at a church, minivan to a bus station, take a bus to a city in the midst of a national forest, hop into another suburban and get dropped off at a farm in a remote region of Costa Rica.
Getting here was a trek, but I have finally begun the World Race, and it’s weird to process that. This first month my team and I are living on a quaint eco-farm near the village of San Bosco tucked at the foot of a beautiful volcano. It’s hot, humid, and breathtaking. It’s a place called Mighty Rivers. This ministry was started by a trio of sisters from the east coast of America and they have a simple mission: to assist those who are struggling by providing supplies, housing, and skills so people can work and sustain themselves. Simply put, their mission is to show love to ‘the least of these’.
The first couple of weeks were challenging because we weren’t a part of that aspect of ministry. We spent the start of the race meeting people of the community, making grocery runs, exploring, and pouring concrete. We’ve been doing the unseen part of ministry that is necessary, but doesn’t feel like ministry in the sense that we think of.
I have it skewed in my head that you’re not doing true ministry if you aren’t healing the sick, feeding the poor, and preaching the gospel. Ministry is loving God, and loving people. If pouring a concrete patio for a cabin used for temorary housing is loving people, then I’m on board. If having spiritual conversations with people who have turned away from their Christian faith is ministry, I’m in. I want to get to the point where I recognize every interaction is an opportunity for the gospel to shine through, however mundane the interaction may seem. Things are starting to pick up here however.
We got to spend four days in a native Indian village in Talamanca, near the border of Panama. We had the opportunity to teach English to a group of willing students, and got to meet fellow missionaries from the U.S. in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. My favorite part of the trip however, was the chance to listen to our host’s story. Her name is Berta, and she has a story of faith and perserverence in the midst of recurring death in her family. I believe her story deserves a blog of its own, which my teammate Marsha is currently putting together. She has given us permission to share her story with the world because she knows that it gives so much glory to God. When her story is put together, I’ll be sharing my teammate’s blog with you all!
We have since returned to the farm, preparing to close out the first month of ministry here in Costa Rica. Please be praying for out team that we would continue to grow as a community, as well as in our own walks with the Lord. We leave Costa Rica on October 7th for Granada, Nicaragua. Please pray that God will guide our feet as we enter a new ministry site! Thank you all for your support, I can’t fully explain all that God is doing already. Feel free to subscribe to this blog to stay tuned for more updates!
