Where did 11 months of my life preparing for this trip go? I’m currently at a McDonald’s in Costa Rica typing this blog next to two girls who are becoming my best friends. These past five days in Costa Rica have been filled with rice, beans, cereal, laughing, crying, doubting, broken Spanish, and an eager McKenna wanting to leave the house.
For those of you who know me, you know I want to be doing children’s ministry 24/7. God however has other plans in store. Thursday we got our ministry and my heart sank when I realized it was only three and a half hours a day. All the people around us were talking about how they had 8 hours of ministry a day and I questioned why God wouldn’t give me that much time to spread His word. After breakfast the next day, we went to different stores throughout the city and I was still lost as to why God gave us a tiny amount of time at ministry. I was eager to leave and hopped in the van at 2:30, waiting to see the place where I would spend the next three months of my life. We got to our ministry at 3:15 and my heart was so excited to hear about everything this organization does for others. The organization we work with helps kids learn different languages, take dance classes, play soccer, make crafts, and play on the playground. It also helps adolescence and adults learn new skills to help them later in life. After learning about the ministry I talked to many awesome kids who probably (definitely) laughed at my terrible grammar while speaking Spanish. I learned small things about them, but I’m excited to build relationships with each of them over the next 3 months. When we got home, the jealousy of other teams extensive ministry snuck back into my mind. I didn’t understand why God would only allow me to be at my organization for such a small amount of time.
Today, God through a series of random events such as: a lady spilling her food on the ground, getting coffee and seeing a baby, showed me that I have tried to put Him and His ability to reach others in a box. Christ spent His days washing people’s feet, giving others food, ministering to the untouchables, and just simply living life with others. HE DIDN’T HAVE A STRUCTURED EIGHT HOUR MINISTRY. God slapped me in the face with the realization that I can do the same thing. I can help the lady at McDonald’s pick up her trash, smile at the tiny baby on the street, speak broken Spanish, and give encouragement to my squad mates who need it most. Ministry doesn’t always look like what I’m used to, but instead it’s a way to live life for the man who died for us.
All the love,
McKenna Flood
