Today is a big day for us. After some hard goodbyes, tears, and sweet reunions with squad mates, our squad hopped on a bus and are currently en route to Nicaragua for our next month of ministry. There are so many emotions I’m feeling now, from pain at the thought of never seeing some sweet, smiling faces again, excitement at the thought of life in Nicaragua, and an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness that literally brings me to tears when I think of the places God has brought me and the things I know he will continue to do. Before starting ministry in Nicaragua, I wanted to give an overall recap of our month in Costa Rica by sharing some of my favorite memories from this month.
I first have to start with our time spent in the public school in Los Guido. Jillian and I were beyond blessed to be able to spend our days with Maureen, one of the English teachers at the school. Maureen instantly welcomed us with open arms. She allowed Jillian and I to help with her English lessons as well as take over the class for a week and teach the vocab lessons for her 1st and 6th grade classes. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed being in those classes and getting to love on those kids. They were so wonderful and so precious. One day Jillian and I were invited to take part in a 6th grade field trip that took us up into the mountains of Costa Rica in Heredia. After our last day in school, Maureen and her husband drove us to the province of Cartago, again with an incredible mountain view. Afterward they drove us around, showing us coffee plantations, the first church in Costa and other countryside sites. On our very last day in Costa Rica, Jillian and I were able to attend the 6th grade graduation dance, which ended up being like a huge party. By far the coolest school dance I’ve ever been to. These are just a few ways that the school welcomed us with open arms and made us feel like family. I feel so honored to have been a part of this school, even just for a month. They showered us with hugs, sweets, and so many handmade thank you notes. This was my biggest blessing this month, and I pray that the love we could show the students and teachers will have an everlasting impact.
One way that I was challenged to grow this month is when I was asked by our ministry host, Mark, to give a message in Spanish to the community that came to an outreach event that was held at the church, called Fear Factor. Normally, this was something that would make me a little nervous, even in English, but the fact that I had to do it in Spanish was even more nerve-wracking. One thing I know though is that this year I want to be stretched, and I am expecting many more situations when I will have to step out of my comfort zone. So I of course said yes. And let me tell you, it was so cool to be able to use this gift of speaking Spanish that God has given me to speak about Him to a group of people. This was the first time I had shared the gospel in Spanish, and I pray for many more opportunities to do so.
Along with doing ministry, we were able to do so many fun things on our off days this month. We were so fortunate to meet Cindy and Julio, who are two teachers at the school, who we became instant friends with. The friendships we formed with them is just another example of God’s gifts to us this month. We visited the La Paz waterfalls and spent an entire weekend at Manuel Antonio with them, which is one of the most beautiful beaches and national parks in Costa Rica.
This first month has been filled with so many good memories, new friends, and moments when I have had to pinch myself to see if it is real. But there have been a lot of tough times, too, of course. Living in community is always hard, but we all want the same thing, and that is to look more like Jesus. I’m so proud of my team for pushing through the difficult times, and I pray that we can continue to lean into the pain as we grow together. This was our first round of goodbyes for the year. However, just like I learned from saying goodbye to my loved ones last month in the States, I am learning to trust God that his work will always continue even after I leave. That he loves his people far more than I ever could, and I want to rest in that always. But how incredible is it that I can play a role in bringing the Kingdom here on earth, even if only for a month?
As we are beginning debrief in Granada and then heading to Chinandega for all-squad month, will you join me in prayer for our team and our squad as a whole as we experience our first transition to another country and culture? Thanks for sticking with me through this adventure. Love you all!
-Marisa
