On Saturdays, we have no idea what to expect for ministry. Partly because our Spanish is not the best and partly because our hosts like to wing it (which is actually pretty awesome). We’ve had two amazing ministry experiences the past two Saturdays that we have been here in Costa Rica and I believe that these days have helped to shape me into a better christian.
The first was a 5 hour worship session at a cell group that we visited:
Going into this, my team and I were aware that we would be doing “church” things from 7pm to midnight but had no clue what it would look like. We were led through the streets of Cartago in the dark by our ministry contact, Jorge, until we arrived at a house sitting up on a hill. Inside the garage of this house was a dim light, a fabric back drop, a couple chairs, and some speakers. This is where Holy Spirit moved in great ways. We had been asked to prepare testimonials that we would share with the group and this is what we began the session with. However, after Cy and myself gave ours, Jorge told us that we were going to break and pray. I did not expect the next hour and a half to be consumed by prayer from everyone in the room. I had never experienced prayer in another language, but to my surprise God showed me something great through it. During that hour and a half I learned that our God transcends languages, nationalities, and cultures. We all cried out to the Lord, whether in Spanish of English, and he listened. We are one body, united by the same Spirit, all one in Christ.
After this time, a couple guys shared some more testimonials and then we took a much needed coffee break. When we started back up again, Jorge announced that the next two hours would be better than the first, and he was right. This time was filled with more testimonials, and about another hour and a half of prayer/worship in English and Spanish. At the end, though exhausted, I was spiritually full. All in all we had an amazing encounter with the Father. God showed my team and I how he desires us to worship him. Not in comfort or routine, not in self-reliance or self-dependence, but in Spirit filled community.
Through this experience, God came in and wrecked my perception of worship. It can never be done correctly in my own strength, but it is only when I come into a desperate need for Holy Spirit to empower me that I can give everything to Christ.
We serve a great God!
