I wrote this blog last month when I was in Costa Rica. Sorry it’s a couple weeks late! It’s written in the perspective of being in Costa Rica. Last month was full of growth, blessings, and whole lot of fun!
This is my 9th month of ministry on the field! It’s crazy to believe that I only have a little less than two more months to go! This month my team has partnered with Pastor Rey and his church named Creo here in San Hose, Costa Rica. Pastor Rey receives no income as a pastor since his church doesn’t receive enough offerings each week to be able to pay him a salary. Instead, the offerings cover the amount of rent for the church. He runs a church of around 60 people. Pastor Rey is a man full of joy. I know that his joy comes directly from the Lord. He is a friend to everyone he meets, loves people unconditionally, and loves Coffee.
Rey’s wife Megan works as a hairstylist. When we came to Costa Rica, Megan was running her hair salon in her home. Megan & Rey decided to rent a two room building so that Megan could have her own studio. It’s really close to their church! Our ministry for this month consisted of painting Megan’s new studio. Megan uses the income from her Salon to provide for her family since Pastor Rey does not get paid as Pastor.
About a week ago, our team was invited to Pastor Reys home because he wanted to share encouragement that God had placed on his heart. It was during this time that Pastor Rey wanted to encourage us as a team as we continued the last two months on the worldrace. He wanted to encourage us to be faithful in prayer and recognize how powerful prayer is in our everyday lives. He also shared part of his testimony. He used to sleep on his mom’s couch because he didn’t have enough money to live on his own. He struggled financially, and during this time he saw God’s provision in his life. Because Pastor Rey know’s what it is like to struggle, he now wants to give freely as much as he can. He encouraged us as a team to give because Christ freely gives to us everyday. Our God is a God of provision, and he provides for our needs.
Throughout this entire month, I have seen how Pastor Rey and his wife Megan live a life where they graciously give to people. When we first arrived to Costa Rica we found out that we would be sleeping in the church we were working in/with. Rey & Megan got each of us an air mattress to sleep on along with pillows and blankets. He was afraid we wouldn’t like where we were staying but honestly staying in the church this month has been a huge blessing. On our first day of ministry, we were painting Megan’s Studio when Pastor Rey came walking in with a huge bag of Mcdonalds! There was chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, fries, and soda. The point is not that we had “gotten things” from Pastor Rey & Megan. The point is that Pastor Rey & his wife Megan live a life that freely gives to others and they don’t ask for anything in return. They give without expecting anything else in return. They live out Matthew 10:8 which says: “Freely you have received ; freely give.”
One thing Pastor Rey said all month that I will never forget is: “YOU ARE MY FAMILY. MY HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE”. This again shows how giving he is as a person. I’m reminded through this how temporary everything we have on earth is. All that we have, comes from Christ. This year I have seen many different cultures. Many that struggle to meet basic needs, and many that are caught up in the riches & distractions of this world. We give because Christ Freely gave to us on the cross. He expected nothing in return. He freely gave.
Everything of this world is temporary. We might think we have control of our money and things but ultimately they are not ours. They are Christs. We can’t take our bank accounts, our houses, our phones, and our successes to heaven. I want to live more like Pastor Rey & Megan. I want my house to be open to other people.I want to share my home, my food, my blankets with others. I want to give freely because Christ Freely gave his life for me on the cross. I want every person I come in contact with to feel like family and know they have a safe place to go. A safe place that allows them to feel free to be themselves and seek the Lord daily. This is what my host’s here in Costa Rica demonstrated to me daily and I can only hope I can do the same for others in this lifetime.
