A glimpse of Costa Rica

If I had to summarize my experience in Costa Rica in one sentence it would probably be “experiencing beauty in its most raw form.” God really took me on a journey of “redefining” what true beauty is. From the breath-taking landscape of the country to the captivating relationships built with the “natives” that my team and I came in contact with, it was all merely a glimpse of the beauty of the One who created it all. 

While in Costa Rica, my team and I did a wide variety of things such as medical clinics, teaching English

,working with the homeless, children’s ministry, and working with the Salvation Army.

My team and I have numerous astounding stories that I would be doing an injustice to them to try and explain each one to you over writing. For some it’s impossible to write out what I saw in the moment and the heart wrenching effect it had on me after, and others there are not enough words to write. One of the most incredible things was to see God work the most in our weaknesses. Also, just realizing just how big of a God we serve. He is so much bigger than any program we could do and He is fully capable of working through our brokenness and flaws. Through our weakness He proves His power, and through His power He proves His worthiness. We serve a God who takes our brokenness aside and makes it beautiful J

Another main thing that we did was partner with the Youth with a Mission campus in Costa Rica for bible distributions. The heart behind bible distributions is leaving people with one of the most influential tools here on this earth: that being Gods word, and really believing in the power it has to change lives. We would divide into small groups of three to five people and go house to house and give people a Bible. Most people out in the rural areas of Costa Rica lived far apart so it would be about a mile or two just to get to one house or village. It was amazing to see with my own eyes the incredible impact that the word of God can have on people who have nothing. It was also remarkable to see how here in the States I see people that have everything yet seem to have nothing, and then going overseas and seeing people who literally have nothing, yet because of the gospel poses everything. Some wept with joy when they received it and many graciously invited us into their homes. They would give us fresh fruit or juice and would just want to know more about who we were and why we were there. One thing I noticed is that many would immediately start reading their new Bible as we were leaving.

One day when we were in the mountains of Costa Rica, we came to this house in a remote village and said our famous line, “Oope, tenemos una biblia gratis para usted.” or, “Hello, we are here with a free bible for you”.  This older man came out and his body language made him look bothered. He began to criticize us for what we were doing, and he asked me, “Where in the Bible does it say that you are to go out and give out Bibles to other people?” So, I paused and then begin to explain to him the power behind Gods word and the calling my team and I felt to participate in giving out His word to Costa Rica.  After talking with him for about 20 minutes, he was still continuing to question/criticize us, and he did not want a Bible. So my group and I decided to move on to the next house.  Right as we were leaving, I heard God’s voice say, “Stay with this man and receive my heart for Him.”  So, I paused, and wondering if that was really God, I set my things down and returned to the man.  I just sat and listened to him, and tried as best as I could to answer his questions.  After being with him for a little bit he started to calm down and his whole demeanor started to change.  Towards the end of our conversation, he paused and said to me

“You know, I believe God sent you all the way from the US to my house to talk with me and give me this Bible.”

It was so encouraging to hear because it really gave me a revelation of Gods individual pursuit for His people, specifically that man in a remote village in the mountains of Costa Rica, and just how far He is willing to go to reach one person: the innate beauty of Gods quest for the lost.

Overall, what has happened to me over the past five months is truly life-changing. I feel as if I have been utterly ruined for the Gospel. The best way I can describe my life before was like an upside-down snow globe. I had all my “snowflakes” in one place, all my plans and dreams for my life in one place. God then, by me surrendering to Him, through the course of the school and being on mission, takes it and turns it right side up and what looks like chaos is really everything beginning to find its place in my life. I see things now that I didn’t see before, I have a forever changed world view and perspective that I didn't have before and precious faces entrenched in my memory that I cannot seem to forget. I see the raw beauty of the splendor of our King as I stand enthralled in the mist of the divine chaos of my once upside down snow globe.

As for my next step, I feel like the Lord is leading me to do a secondary school in January called “School of Evangelism.” I don’t believe He is finished with me at Youth with a Mission and it is clear that He has not told me to leave. I believe what I am learning here at Youth with a Mission and on the mission field are unforgettable experiences and are preparing me for what He has for me in the future. I also believe that what I have been given these past five months is not just for me but for the edification of the believers and encouragement to the non-believers. So with that, I hope and pray that all feel edified by reading this, and elated see how God has used your support and prayers to be a part of kingdom building here on this tattered earth.