The calling to Costa Rica that God places and confirmed in my heart while I was in Hungary, 7 months ago is starting to become more tangible and to have shape in His Hands ! I traveled with Maggie (Assistant Pastor's wife from my home church) for 13 days. We clearly saw God's hand not only protecting us and leading us to every place we visited but also giving us His grace and favor as we were kindly received and loved by the missionaries and the people there! I confidently tell you that the trip was successful and very insightful! Thank you so much for your prayer and support, we truly felt them and saw them answered on every bus we took, on every meal we had and on every place we visited! This post may be longer than usual, but please take a little extra time to read and enjoy what God did in this trip !
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| Maggie and I on one of the buses (left) and enjoying a Cafe Britt Frappuccino, Delicious (Right) |
One of the missions of this trip actually started on the plane from Atlanta to San Jose, Costa Rica. Maggie and I seated on different rows. Even though I had purposed myself to read and journal during this flight, a young Canadian-Italian man next to me started to talk to me half way into the flight, and so the missions started. We had a 2-hour conversation that ended with the explanation of the message of salvation from the passage of John 3. He listened attentively and even asked questions about eternity and good works, since he had a religious background. The Spirit helped me to explain to Him the gospel in the simplest way and I'm sure he understood the core of it, Repentance and Grace, however, we could not close in prayer for we were already landing. Please keep this gentleman in your prayers, his name is Marco Alberto. We exchanged emails and I pray to send him a Biblical place for him to visit in Winnipeg.
Once in Costa Rica, we spied the land as it was the purpose! Maggie and I visited four different places: Heredia (Central area of Costa Rica and the trip "base"), Tamarindo (Northwest area), San Isidro (Southwest area) and Dominical (Southwest beach area). In all of these there are church plants and/or other ministries being established.
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| In Heredia, we visited and stayed with Victor and Nichol, a wonderful missionary couple that is serving in Heredia with a School of Discipleship and Ministry. Christians from different churches are welcomed and received to study the word in depth, in a more academic way, and God is doing great things through them back in their churches and in the city. Victor and Nichol were such a huge blessing for us, receiving us in their home and displaying God's love and service in every way! We can say that they spoiled us with God's love hehehehe = ). Please pray for them and their ministry! Visit their blog ! |
We took a 6-hour bus ride north to Tamarindo, actually to Villareal specifically where we had the privilege of visiting the McKay Family and Capilla del Calvario Villareal, their church plant. They have served there for 5 years, speak Spanish and currently have two Sunday services and one on Wednesday. It was a blessing to hear Phil, the pastor, teach in Costa Rican Spanish! They have a team to serve the community where God has put them with different ministries and needs and are discipling and raising local leaders for the church. Likewise, Rebecca, his wife, speaks Spanish and serves their 4 kids as well as the local community. It was a complete joy to see what God is doing through the McKays there. We continue to lift them up in prayer. Capilla del Calvario Villareal. Heads up: please pray for Jeffrey, a Costa Rican with whom I shared the gospel in a restaurant in Tamarindo. He actually came to the afternoon service that Sunday and met Phil ! God is awesome !
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| Capilla del Calvario Villareal on Sunday (left) / Phil and Rebecca Mckay and Maggie and Me (right) |
Our next stop was San Isidro, Perez Zeledon, three hours south of the capital of Costa Rica. This is a little town, less rural than Villareal but still not as urban as a city. We visited the Bible College teaching site there, met the students and teachers/staff and sat through the Sunday Bible study they have recently started to reach the local community. God in His grace has saved around 9 people, of which at least 4 are young girls. It was awesome to meet them and encourage them in their faith in Jesus. We were encouraged by the strong passion there for the Word and the way the Spirit is leading this new Bible study. Bible College Costa Rica. We also visited a missionary couple in the same town, Curtis and Chelly who have 4 pretty girls and are also serving with the Bible College and having a Bible study on Wednesdays in their home. Capilla San Isidro. It was amazing to see the love and example that all these missionaries are setting in San Isidro, by living among the people and loving on them in word and deed. May God continue to lead them and use them!
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| Some pizza with the missionaries and students in San Isidro ! |
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| From left to right: Juli, Vanessa (staff), Me, Gabby and Shirley. Bible Study in San Isidro |
Last stop: The beach in Dominical. We took a 1-hour bus ride from San Isidro to visit Mike and Starla Chaves and their ministry. They sell burgers at the beach to connect with tourists. Maggie and I made burgers and served the tables for one day, it was pretty cool! And on top of that, I got a free surfing class hehehe = ) The Chaves family kindly received us and invited us to join their service on Sunday at the restaurant that turns into church on Sundays. They serve breakfast to those that come early and then faithfully teach the word, in a "beach style" to all those that come. The teaching has simultaneous translation into Spanish. We were blessed to see many kids come, as well as tourists, to hear the Word of God! This family is impacting both tourists and locals at the beach! Let's pray for them and their continued ministry! The Refuge Church
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| Starla, Mike, Maggie and Me (left) and Maggie making burgers (right) |
After this great trip, we just praise Jesus for His faithfulness! Back in New Jersey, we reported back to our church on the insights of the trip and continue to pray for all these missionaries.
In the next couple of months I will be in New Jersey :
-Praying for God's leading and confirmation on the place and ministry where He wants me
-Being mentored and prepared by my pastor to go out to the mission field, as I serve in my local church full-time
-Trusting and praying for God to provide the funds for relocation and monthly support there
This is a season of transition in my life, a season of true faith and dependance on my Savior! I pray that He continues to shape me and change me, and cleanse me for His purposes! There are many things and details that I don't know exactly at this point and that I don't control, and precisely because of that, God is dealing with my full dependance on Him. It has to be enough for me to know that He knows, and He is in control of all ! He is my portion, my inheritance and my cup !
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance
and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen
to me in pleasant places;
Yes,
I have a good inheritance..”
(Psalm 16.5-6)
