Jaco, Costa Rica 411

Hi everyone! This month has been so hectic I am finally writing a short blog on what we’ve been up to! Next blog will be more in depth about what God has been teaching me and showing me here.

1.       Where are we serving?

We are serving in Jaco, Costa Rica.  It is a beautiful, tourist beach town where people come from all over the world to surf.  Along with the beauty, there is a lot of darkness shown through the community here; people are turning to many other idols such as alcoholism, prostitution, and drugs. 

 

 

2.       Who are our contacts and what is their vision?

Our contacts are three beautiful women named Hannah, April, and Sarah.  Hannah came to Jaco while in Costa Rica because she had heard how dark Jaco was.  People told her that she shouldn’t go here, but her stubborn personality drove her to this place she fell in love with.  God gave her a heart to see life come into this area, which it is! 

Their vision is to see the people in Jaco stop clinging to false idols such as drugs, alcohol, and sex and to cling to Christ, who is the only person who grants life. Currently, they are working on creating a cooking class and craft classes to teach those who are recovering from various addictions to be able to provide for themselves financially.  In that, they want to share the gospel and the power of redemption Christ provides.

3.    Who have we been able to minister to? 

Life in Jaco has been very busy as there are so many amazing ministries going on here.  As we have partnered with the contacts previously mentioned, they are connected to Horizon church which is an amazing international church in the area. Mostly everyone in the church is running a ministry or supporting one through donations or volunteering.

With that being said, through your financial support and prayers, we have been able to act out bible stories to kids in the area on Saturdays, help a woman locally who has just recently become a Christian after the death of her husband organize her possessions and move to another condo, encourage teachers through goody bags, and prepare for a fund-raise event.

  

4.   What is this fund-raise event I keep talking about?

Sunday, November 24^th there will be a cooking demonstration fundraiser at the property we are living at.  The vision for the fundraiser is to raise awareness about this next part of the ministry that Hannah has a vision for.  She wants to fund-raise for materials for a cooking class to teach people recovering from addictions how to cook and make crafts.  The crafts we have been creating, she wants to see how marketable they are.  Through this, the individuals Hannah wants to help will be able to provide for themselves financially through creating crafts and cooking.  Also, they will learn about Christ’s powerful redemption. 

All month we have been preparing for this by spending hours every day walking along the beach collecting drift wood, sea glass, and sea beans. (Tough life I know!) Also, we’ve painted drift wood signs to sell, created sea glass ornaments, drift wood Christmas trees, and created ornaments out of sea beans and sea shells.  We have been trying to figure out which products are the easiest to make and what will be the most marketable to sell.  The past week, we have been cleaning the property, painting the walls, marketing for the event, and decorating.  Please pray it goes well tomorrow. 

   

 

5.   What does living look like?

My team, Real Love, has been living with another all girls team called Oceans. It has been amazing serving alongside of them and living with them.  Twelve of us live in tents under an awning and have enjoyed it so much.  We share a kitchen with a fridge!  Fun Facts: We have seen a crab in our bathroom and have huge iguanas on the trees around us.

6.       Fun Things we have seen and done 

·         I have released sea turtles two times and seen them released four times while running on the beach in the morning. 

·         We learned how to surf!

7.       Things I’d love for you to partner in praying with me for.

·  We all have LOVED this month so much. Please be in prayer for our emotions as we leave and go to Thailand on the 29^th.  Latin America has definitely been a different culture; however, not as different as Asia will be.  Please pray God will prepare our hearts for the change and that we will not grow weary and keep seeking Him. 

·  We will be in Atlanta and LA next week for layovers.  Please pray for our squad that no one becomes homesick or is tempted to end the Race because of wanting that comfort of home again.

· Please pray for the fundraiser which we will host on Sunday.  Pray people want to donate to this ministry and become involved in the ministry.  Pray for the funds that are needed to be funded.  Pray for Jaco and the people here that they will cling to Christ over other idols. Pray for encouragement for the church here and that they don’t grow weary in wanting to see God transform this city. 

·Please pray for Hannah, Marissa, and Crystal on the team we are working with.  By December 1^st, they all need $11,000 to reach their deadline.  If you feel led to support them let me know. Please pray for them to be provided for.

· Last, please pray for my finances as well. I have been so blessed with all of your support. I can’t put my gratitude into words.  This journey has already been the journey of a lifetime and I have learned so much about God and seen Him move more than ever before.  I can’t thank you enough for supporting me to share about Christ’s love to the locals in Quiche, Guatemala, help build a future campground in Guatemala, love the women who had been sexually exploited and their children in Nicaragua, and to help prepare a fund-raise event to the locals here in Costa Rica so God can use this ministry to redeem those in Jaco.  If you feel led, I am still in need of $2,770.78 by March 1^st. 

 

I pray you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. Thank you so much for following my blog and supporting me!