Well, we survived our first half of outreach! I’ll try to sum it all up real quick before we head out again tomorrow. The first week was spent in Talamanca, Bribri, Bambu, Costa Rica. It was our jungle camping trip, which is TOP SECRET to anyone who may do it in the future. Therefore, I can’t share too many details of that week but I will say that God taught me so much! I learned teamwork and how to truly depend on God. I realized that sometimes I really do need other people. I also learned that God will guide me every step throughout life as long as I depend on Him. It was an incredibly challenging week but so valuable! If you want to know more about it please email or send me a message on Facebook and I’ll share some details. After our week in Talamanca we spent a couple of days in Puerto Viejo to recuperate and also do some ministry. We slept on the upstairs floor of a shut-down bar that had no lights nor showers. We had sink water but no flushing toilets. Let’s just say it was a bit of a challenge but fun nonetheless. During one evening there a few of us went to a bar/restaurant to see how we might minister there. We met a few people and made a good connection with one of them. We were able to meet up with him again the next day and encourage him more in finding a relationship with God. We also did a prayer walk throughout the town and it was a really powerful time. Toward the end of the walk we felt led to pray for individuals so as we walked the streets we listened for the Holy Spirit to tell us who to speak with. One of the people we were led to was a bartender in a restaurant. We talked to him for a few minutes and found out he truly was in need of prayer. It was a blessing to be able to pray for him and encourage him. We then made our way to Bocas del Toro, Panama. We stayed on Isla Colon and it was such a beautiful place! We took a large bus, then small tourist van, then water taxi to arrive there. We also had to walk across a rickety old bridge full of holes in order to cross the border. We were blessed by being able to stay in a hotel that was right on the water and provided us with a kitchen, beds/bedding, a/c, and a shower….and running water! It even came in under budget!! God is so faithful to us! It’s not easy traveling with 17 people from several different countries but we managed to make it without any issues.
While in Bocas del Toro we did several types of ministry. The first evening and following morning we spent time getting to know the town. We walked around to see what there was to see and also spent some time asking questions of the locals. The first day, after learning more about the town, we went to a very poor community and picked up trash. The houses were very basic and not good quality. They were right on the edge of the ocean so the houses were just above the water level. I was shocked at how much trash had accumulated there and can’t imagine growing up in those conditions. I met one man who said his family has lived there for a long time and now his son is growing up there. It’s such a different lifestyle than how I grew up and I couldn’t help but thank God for how blessed I have been. The next two days were spent working in a nursing home, spending time with the residents. We sang songs, read Bible stories, drew pictures, and just talked. The second day there we painted murals and Bible verses on the bedroom walls to try and brighten up their living areas. They were so happy to have us because they hardly ever get visitors. Many of them have been left there by their families so they feel very lonely. The day that we were picking up trash we were spotted by a news reporter who became interested in what we were doing. He took video of us at the nursing home then invited us to do a live broadcast that evening. We were able to speak on live television about why we were there and what we were doing. Talk about an open door from God! The following day the team divided into two groups; some went to spend time with children in the hospital and the other group helped clean up a neighborhood. The next day we spent time in the central park of the island, which is a very popular hangout spot. We received permission from the mayor to paint the benches however we wanted, including Bible verses. It was a lot of fun and also sparked a lot of conversation from passersby. That afternoon was spent talking to locals again. My group decided to get in a taxi and have the driver take us around the island and during the ride see what kind of conversation came up. Unfortunately, he had a friend riding around with us and they weren’t very interested in hearing what we had to say or in answering our questions. Sunday afternoon we went back to the park and spent time with the children there. We sang songs with them, did a few skits, played a few games, then painted their faces with whatever they requested. It was a fun afternoon and even drew some adults. Monday we went to another island (which happened to be the most beautiful beach I have ever seen!) and we read the entire New Testament aloud as an act of spiritual warfare over the area. We also prayed for the area and then our leaders surprised us by renting snorkels and masks and allowed us some time to check out the fish. What a fun surprise…and what awesome leaders! The following day was our last day there and it was a free day before our day of travel back to San Jose. I went with a few girls to Starfish Beach and it was SO AMAZING! I have never seen anything like it! There were more starfish than you could count and they were huge! It was wonderful to relax and soak in the sun before heading back to the city. We arrived yesterday evening and had just enough time to unpack before going to bed. We spent this morning at the Salvation Army feeding the homeless and picking up trash. Now we’re preparing for our second half of outreach, which starts tomorrow. We will spend one week in Nicoya, Costa Rica helping with a Bible distribution project taking place in Central America. Then we will head to Tegucigalpa, Honduras for two weeks where we will primarily be working with a youth group that is highly active in reaching out to the community. From Honduras we will go to El Salvador for one week to debrief our outreach time as we prepare to go back home. The next five weeks will go so fast and I can’t believe it will be time for me to leave all of my beloved friends. Please continue praying for us as we finish the final stretch of our outreach. God is doing big things in us and through us.
Blessings!!
P.S. Check Facebook for pictures….I will be adding them very soon
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