1). The Power of Prayer: Alex Ramirez, Tate Roberts and I were walking around Puerto Viejo doing street evangelism. This looks like praying, walking, talking to people and asking people if they know Jesus or want prayer. We had been walking aimlessly for about an hour where nothing was happening. So we decided to stop, pray and ask the Lord to send someone to us because we were feeling a little discouraged.
AS WE WERE PRAYING!!! (we never truly close our eyes in public as to be safe – we just look down) …a woman came up to us. She pointed to our necks and asked us something in Spanish. Thank God Alex R. knew some. She translated for us. Basically we were wearing cross necklaces so she was asking if we were christians. When we said yes and told her what we were doing in Costa Rica she got so excited. Her name was Maria and her husband was Antonio. She explained that they go to church and they work with a program that helps people find Jesus and go through rehab from their addictions. She invited us into their rest area and asked if they could pray over us. I didn’t understand a word she said but it honestly didn’t matter, I could feel the presence of the Lord and her adoration for him. It was beautiful! When the prayer ended we actually got to meet a man who had just recently come out of their rehab program. It was pretty awesome and we left encouraged, praising the Lord for the divine encounter.
2). Confirmation for Here and Now: When Abi Kidd left the race I wasn’t just sad… to be completely vulnerable I was honestly jealous. Month one is done on the field and I am starting to feel pretty home sick. I miss my family and all the comforts of the states. It’s getting hard. Days are super long and weeks are short and I’m getting to the point where I’m praying constantly that I don’t just wish these precious days away just because I want to go home and enter the next season of life.
Anyway, the Lord gave me some scripture confirming this is where I am meant to be right now. I’d love to explain it in detail because the Lord is just SO GOOD but that would be very hard to type and it would take too long. (So if you ever want to call and talk to me about it in person let a girl know) But basically He gave me 1 Kings 19:1-15 and Psalm 63 right after. 1 Kings 19 basically revealed to me what I explained in my last blog … how important spiritual food and water are. “Get up and eat some more or the journey will be too much for you.” Verses 7-8
It also revealed to me how loving and patient Jesus is with me. Verses 11-12 talk about a mighty windstorm, a terrible earthquake and a fire… but the Lord was not in any of them. That was my temper tantrum. My anger and rage. But then in verse 12 it says “then there was a gentle whisper”. Verse 15 then says “go back the same way you came and travel to the wilderness.” The Lord let me have my moment to vent but then he whispered “ok its time to go back to work.” He confirmed this by giving me Psalm 63 which is literally a Psalm of David regarding a time when David was in the wilderness. HOW COOL AND AWESOME IS GOD!?! So even though its hard, I know I’m meant to be here right now for the next 3 1/2 months.
3). Confirmation for Up Coming Seasons: The Lord is so amazing and He over these past few months. Even more so here in Puerto Viejo He has confirmed me in his calling for my life and for my next seasons of life. I’m am currently living in the moment but he has also given me something to look forward too. 😀
It has taken me going to a very poor sketchy high school and joining a 9 months mission trip for the Lord to show me where he was leading me in my future. Sometimes its funny how the Lord works. The whole reason I joined WRGY was to figure out what my next steps in life were – where was God calling me next? Since age 13 I have wanted to do missions, but here I have learned that ministry is life and life is ministry even in your home country. So I’m happy to announce that my next season of life will be in America. I know America needs Jesus now more than ever! The Lord has called me there. I don’t know exactly what its all going to look like yet but its just one step of faith at a time. (Side note – I felt called to Syria along time ago. Its what started my desire for missions. I do think I will go there one day but I don’t think it will be my life. I don’t know though. Ive got a good 75 more years for me and so much could happen in that time:)
He hasn’t given me a specific state so I will probably stay in the state my family will be in when I return. They have plans for a new ministry that I love to be apart of one day when it comes into existence. 🙂 But for me, He’s given me a passion for fitness. So my first thoughts are to work at a gym. My ultimate life goal in this category is to earn enough money to buy/create my own small community gym. Also, I’ve known this since Pemberton especially but its never clicked until now my heart for the youth – specifically high schoolers. Let me explain further…
One day during evangelism I worked out with some young dudes from the states. (Probably in their early or mid 20s) Some were visiting from America, others had moved from the US to Costa Rica. We talked a little – you could tell they weren’t the church type. They were cursing, doing drugs, they invited me to a party later that night and when I invited them to church they were like “uh no’. Anyways we established a friendship. I felt so connected to them and more compassion for them than I have for anyone who I have met on the race so far. My heart broke for them because I knew what they are filling their lives with was not going to satisfy them – only Jesus will. After this encounter and some things that happened in while I was in Gainesville. I know I want to work with high school youth. To help guide them in establishing a firm foundation and relationship with Jesus before they are sent out into the big bad world. I believe its such a critical stage in life, especially from what I’ve seen during my years of high school and what I’ve seen/heard here on the race.
But of course I had my doubts that the Lord could use me at such a young age to work with high schoolers. I just graduated last year! I feel like they need an older wiser generation. But then, God so kindly reached out to me and confirmed me again. A friend from high school, someone who I love but never would have thought would come to me with this desire asked me “Why do you believe in God?’ We had a huge conversation about it and I could tell my friend was truly conflicted and truly trying to search and seek. I love my Pemberton peeps so much and I pray for them all the time – that they would come to know the Lord. They all knew I was christian. I shared with them the love of Jesus and my faith but nothing ever happened from it. I didn’t think anything I did mattered but the Lords word never goes in vain. Seeds were planted and now I’m getting to see maybe a sprout trying to pierce through the dirt.
A similar thing happened with a friend from England. Another confirmation. He messaged me saying he was doing some spring cleaning and he found a note I had wrote him a long time ago. He apologized for the way he acted back in the day. He said he was then going through a really dark time and he thanked me for always being so kind to him. Wow! Such a sweet encouragement! “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
So yea! God is good! The plan is fitness being my payed job and youth leader being my life outside of pay. Both I am passionate about and both I enjoy immensely. Fitness and youth ministry! I am super excited for the next season of life and how the Lord is going to work!
And there you have it! Powerful ways the Lord has spoken to me since being on the field! He’s revealed to me so much these past almost 6 months. He is so good and so faithful!
Thank you for reading this super long blog.
Thinking and Praying for you all!
Alex Paige
