Well since my last update much has been happening, including a warm and not very white Christmas. It was just over a week ago that we officially finished our lecture phase here in San Jose. A day that came so much sooner than I was hoping. We finished strong though with a week of teaching on Evangelism. To be completely honest, it was not a week that I was particularly looking forward to. In fact it was something that scared and intimidated me. After spending days in lectures with some of the staff here at the base though I learned that it’s not something to be afraid of. :) A few things that stuck out to me during the week and made me feel better were that evangelism is not a switch that you turn on and off, but rather it’s a lifestyle. Our perfect example of an evangelist is Jesus. He lived a life of prayer, spending time with God, hearing from him, and being obedient to what the Father. A life of humility, identifying with those that he ministered to, and also a life of listening to those that he ministered to. Which in a nutshell is evangelism...it’s a lifestyle, not a switch that we turn on and off. Evangelism can simply be a smile, a listening ear, or an in-depth conversation...just to name a few. I have to say that after our week of lectures on evangelism it was something that I was excited for. Which brings me to our first week of outreach.
We spent the last week in Liberia, Costa Rica, which is located in the North-western region of Costa Rica, about 5 hours from where I have been the last three months. Chill, relaxed, friendly, welcoming, and loving are just a few words that I would use to describe both Liberia, and the people. To say the least, it was definitely a blessing to partner with the church and be involved in ministry in the area. A few experiences that stick out in my mind that I would like to share with you.
Firstly, Christmas dinner with the homeless. Here in Costa Rica they celebrate Christmas on the 24th, so on the 23rd, Christmas Eve, we came along side and helped to put on a Christmas event for the homeless. An evening that touched my heart. When the homeless first arrived to the event we got to give each of them a Bible, and a new set of clothes. It was absolutely amazing and honestly brought me to tears when I saw the joy that came over them when they received these things. Then we were able to both wash their feet and shower them. By that time they were all looking really good, and then we got to fill their stomachs with an amazing Christmas meal, and their hearts with a little program. My highlight of the evening happened after all of this when myself, and another girl on our team, Jody, were talking with one of the homeless ladies. Well...actually...Jody knows Spanish so she was talking, and I was listening. :) But the lady began to open up and talk about her family. As she began to remember certain people in her family she was brought to tears. As she continued to talk, she confessed many things in her life and from the depths of her heart cried out for reconciliation with her family. We had the opportunity to pray with her, and lead her to salvation, as well as share with her that because of the blood of Christ she has been made clean. She is no longer “dirty”, which is something that she thought of herself. To top the evening off, we were the last three sitting on chairs, which they were wanting to clean up. This lady did not want to leave yet, so after taking away our chairs I sat down on the ground, both of us proceeding to help this lady down. Next thing I know she has plopped right down on my lap, and didn’t even think twice about it! Now I was sitting there in the grass with an older homeless lady on my lap, and there was nothing we could all do, but burst out laughing. Her response simply was, “I don’t want to get my new clothes dirty!”. Fair enough, can’t argue with that! So we sat there for another 15 minutes, just talking and laughing very hard, which was just absolutely amazing and liberating for all three of us!
The amazing thing is that we were able to build on that relationships we made that night with the homeless throughout the rest of the week as we would be out and about and would run into them, or could take time to go visit them at the park, or they would simply run up to us with their Bibles in hand, a thumbs up, and big smile on their face! It was such a blessing!
Amidst the busyness as a group we were able to enjoy a warm and not so white Christmas. As I shared earlier, they celebrate Christmas on the 24th, so we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas dinner and party at one of our leader’s house, and in keeping with Costa Rican tradition we had Christmas day off and were able to go the the beach. All in all, a very different, but wonderful Christmas!
Now we have been back in San Jose for two days, busily getting ready for our next outreach location...GERMANY!!! As we head out, your prayers would be greatly appreciated. For safe travels. Continual unity within our team. So far all we know for sure is that we are starting off in Frankfurt, and then heading off to Berlin, so that that we would be sensitive to the Spirit’s guiding. As well as protection spiritually, as we are heading into a harder and colder culture than Central America. Thank you so much!
