I know everyone is very curious as to where I am and what I am doing. Well, this month I get the opportunity to do ministry in Los Guido, Costa Rica. Los Guido is a highly populated slum community of around 50,000 people,mostly inhabited by squatters (people who live on land illegally with no title). Majority of homes are made up of scrap metals and cement. Some homes only have one room that consist of their living room, kitchen, and bedroom in one very small area. Because of the poor conditions of Los Guido, it is strongly influenced by gangs and violence.
For the past 13 years, Christian Light Foundation has been dedicated to discipleship and evangelism in this dark place. The heart of the organization’s ministry is on a 2 acre piece of land, named La Finca, where New Life Church and Las Sonrisas feeding center is located. Here, they have church for the community every sunday, community outreach such as bonfires and movie nights, and feed nearly 300 or more children per day during the school year. Christian Light Foundation has been able to bless this community in many ways and through that they have been able to shine God’s love and light to many Christians and nonbelievers.
Through outreach, God has continued to use them to disciple others to go out into their community, their country, and the world to disciple and share God’s great love to all people. God’s command of “Go and make disciples..” is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of this organization and church. One way God has used their discipleship and evangelism is to plant a daughter and granddaughter church in Nicaragua and Honduras.
Our team’s place and work here is to focus on helping and supporting our host, the members of the ministry, and church in whatever ways we can to give them rest, encourage them, and bless them as they prepare for the year ahead. So far we have done manual labor, VBS, prayed with people in their homes of Los Guidos, and got to do a bonfire with the community after church. These are just a few of the things we have got to do. God has been able to do so much more through that. Many things we may not be able to see immediate results of. But I know, as I witnessed the woman crying while we prayed over her, her family, and her home, as we laughed with children on the streets during VBS, as we smiled at the youth as we assisted them in the painting of the church, that God is working in much bigger ways. New Life Church
Homes of Los Guido
Preparing to lay cement with another team from Texas and some of the youth
Cement work
I met this sweet little 10 year old lady at one of the VBS on the streets along with her 2 year old brother she takes care of. she is also AMAZING at gymnastics
S’mores with the kids after church
My sweet friend Ashley
It’s crazy that we only have a week left in Costa Rica. Coming up we are having a movie night and inviting people all over Los Guido. And one night we are having a girls night for our ministry host and the girls in charge of ministry to really just hang out with them and let them know they are loved and the work they do is so valuable.
Also this past weekend we had a few free days so our team got to go to Jaco beach where we got to relax and visit with another team working with Christian Surfers Ministry.
Some members of New Life Church are going on a mission trip to Nicaragua in April. All still live in poor conditions in Los Guido. Although the cost may seem impossible, their love for God and their will to obey His command overcome those doubts of finances. If you would like to support their mission trip financially please let me know.
Also please keep Christian Light Foundation in your prayers. You can add them on [Facebook] to keep up with the ministry and their prayer request.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, or if you just want to know more details about this journey! And keep up with me on Facebook for more photos. https://www.facebook.com/olivia.reed.94
As they say in Costa Rica….. Pura Vida!
olivia
