And sometimes your life comes around in full circle
So as many of you have probably seen I got to spend a few days in Costa Rica last week. Every few months we have something called debrief. It is a time to reflect on the past few months and this debrief also had team changes. It is a time for rest and a time for fun since our whole squad is together.
A friend and I decide that on our last day we are going to take a sunset cruise. It offers paddle boarding and snorkeling and an awesome day of sailing. I am so in. But all in all, I just felt alittle convicted. I am this missionary who is giving up comforts to serve the Lord and people are donating for me to be on the field. And here I am deciding to go on a catamaran to enjoy my day. But hey, when in Costa Rica, ya know?!?!
So here we are enjoying our day on this boat. I got to swim in the middle of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Costa Rica. I mean that is amazing.
It is only about 20 people on the boat. The other group is a group of middle-aged men and women celebrating a 50th birthday. They are having a blast and laughing the day away.
After about 6 hours on the trip, we come to the sunset. So I offer to take pictures of their group. Then they start to ask about me. So my friend and I tell them about the World Race. One of the ladies knows a girl on the race right now. Small world right?
Then I begin talking to sweet, sweet Carrie. She asks me all about my trip. What I did in each country, which country I liked most, what my living conditions were, what scared me most, my favorite moments. It didn’t matter she just wanted to hear my story. She cared. She wanted to hear more. But most of all she was proud. She was proud of me, a girl she had just met a few moments before, a girl she didn’t really know.
In that moment, I suddenly was reminded it not just about the people I serve. It is not just about my family members at home or my college friends. This is a lifestyle I live and even on my days off I am still a missionary. The Lord is still using me to further his Kingdom, even on the boat.
At the end of the conversation she asked how much my trip cost. I told her, “I am almost fully funded but I am about $600 short”. She wanted to donate so I gave her my blog and thanked her time and time again.
We all rode back to shore and the whole group laughed with us. Laughed that suddenly I didn’t have fear of the future. I have no clue what the next how every many years of my life looks like but I am ready. We laughed that I had no idea if I would have a bed to sleep on for the next 7 months and I didn’t care.
We get to shore and it is all hugs and good wishes. Carrie looks at me after I hug her and says, “Good luck. You are a beautiful woman. I am proud to know you.”
Now I am here, in a random hostel in Panama looking for future contacts and I get an Email from AIM. It says $100 donations from Carrie. 10 minutes later I get a sweet message from Carrie with encouragement to get me through the next 7 months.
To my sweet Carrie: Thank you! Thank you for being a glimpse of sunlight. Thank you for caring and loving so deeply for someone you just met. Thank you for listening to my story. I pray we stay in touch throughout this journey. Thank you for just being the kind spirit you are and for partnering with me.
So that was Costa Rica for ya! Pura Vida!!! A few moments of just straight beauty.
I just want to give you a short little update on my life. Now I am here in Panama City, Panama doing Unsung Hero month. That means I am in search of new ministries for future World Racers to visit.
Life is good! Love y’all,
Mols
