C o s t a  R i c a

Pura vida: puré life

The life style in Costa Rica is very family oriented. In the bigger cities it is busy; there are people in markets selling fruits, vegetables, clothes, and all kinds of beautiful hand made commodities. Just a few kilometers from our ministry there is a city just like this in the Nicoyan penensula. It’s beautiful and busy. There is a breathtaking church in downtown Nicoya that is over 450 years old. I’ll insert a photo below of this beauty.

We went into town which had cell service, fed coconuts to squirls, went to the geocery stores, withdrew colones (the Costa Rican currency) and saw huge iguanas ALL IN ONE DAY! It was incredible.

While there’s so much excitement in Nicoya, there is also incredible beauty in the rural villages we’re in. It was hard for me the first couple of days. So far I have had spiders crawling on me in my sleep, eaten more beans and rice than ever in my lifetime, walked miles of dirt roads, taken crowded public transportation, and experienced major language barriers. But with that, I have found so much joy in moments with my team, trying local fruits, singing worship songs in Spanish, playing with the young kids in the community, resting in my hammock, writing in my journal each night, listening to the monkeys in the trees, team walks, and watching the giecos running around the walls. It is truly a step out of my comfort zone, and yet, I couldn’t be more thankful that I am here.

In the United States everyone’s life is so busy we don’t always take the time to build community relationships, but in Costa Rica a part of ministry is building relationships because it’s so valued here.

We have been so blessed to have days of rest after a busy day of travel. But we began our ministry this week and it’s been so incredible to fix up the church we’re staying in. Also serving the neighbors by painting, putting in a septic tank, and helping in anyway need! It’s been awesome to love on this community the way they love each other. 

I’m excited to see how this service will change my heart and help others to be open to the love Jesus has for them! Sending much love from Nicoya! 

If you’d like to join me in prayer, I would love prayers for:

• God to use my team and I as vessels for His plan to spread the gospel despite a language barrier

• The pastors who are trying to buy land to build a house for their family so they can move out of the church 

• The community’s hearts to be open to learning about the Lord 

• Healthy team interactions and strength as this is all new to each of us 

• And of course protection from spiders ;)