A True God Sent

I just met the most amazing woman that I have ever met in my life. One day she realized that she could do more than just be a house wife, and she prayed to God that he would show her how to use her to the best of her abilities. The next day a woman stopped by early in the morning asking her if she could take care of her three kids. More and more children kept arriving, and pretty soon she had to ask her mother in law for space to watch kids, but even that wasn’t enough. Within time she had some government support and was able to have a place for the kids to come daily. Her doors open before 6 and she has kids until after 10 at night.

She receives a little bit of government support for 80 some of the children. She receives well over that number, many of the children’s parents undocumented and unable to pay. She’s all go go go – as she runs the whole show with the help of 3 other women.

The most impacting thing is the LOVE that she pours out for these children. She shared with me that with every diaper she changes she is giving everything she has. She won’t make disgusting faces, but willingly cleans each one of them – just one of the many ways that she expresses her love to the children. She also shared about she disciplines them and uses tough love so that they learn, and won’t let them get by with all that they try to do. She boasts that not one swear word is spoken within her gates.

What broke my heart was hearing the story of a little boy and his little sister. Their mother is a prostitute and drug addict, both born of different fathers. They are some of the kids that are there until ten at night. One day the mom dropped of her son, and not her daughter. She didn’t come back to pick him up until four days later. This same little boy has been abused by his stepfather- his little sister’s father. The woman explains that those are the reasons why she works as much as she does.

She provides a safe place for these children to be. Free from drugs, free from violence, and abuse. If they weren’t with her they would be in their houses, neighbor’s houses or on the streets, suffering through all sorts of evils. She knows all about the street life, having grown up there herself, and she wants something better for these kids. She wants to have a place where they are safe, they are loved, and they are encouraged to move forward in their studies and live a different lifestyle from that of their parents.

His Presence and Ministry with Ohio team

From day 1 of being with them INCREDIBLE things have taken place. They are very open to the workings and the movement of the Holy Spirit. We had an AMAZING time in worship together where the presence of God was so tangible so real, I saw our hearts joining as one to worship the God that we all know and love. Our team ministered to theirs, and then theirs to ours and we ended up interceding for Heredia, Costa Rica, and the churches of Costa Rica. It was such a sweet time in the presence of God.


I translated for Church, and there were several times I had to hold my self back from shouting out when the Holy Spirit came upon me. I felt the pastors mantle resting upon me as I shared. The Holy Spirit to many of the youth and women of the church. My eyes were set on one woman but since I was translating it took me a while to get to her. The moment I set my hand on her, I began to pray as the Holy Spirit led, and She immediately started crying- entering into areas of her life that she hadn’t in the past, allowing Jesus to enter into her hurt, and being able to forgive those who had hurt her. It was SO powerful. God is setting the captives free!


We went to a park to share about Jesus and all that Jazz and we approached two guys, talked forever about everything under the sun, and then in the end asked if we could pray for them. They said yes and the first guy said for his school. The second guy said the same, but I could tell that he had something more, so I asked him and he OPENED up and shared about all of his pains with his father's alcoholism, how it tore apart his family and the lonliness he felt. This was HUGE for him to be sharing. His friend was hearing it all for the first time- and something in their friendship deepened. They are going to be able to hold each other up in times of difficulty, and for that I am so grateful.

Singing a New Song

A couple weeks ago, my little buddy Caleb (age 5) asked me a very simple question. But it sparked very profound moment of introspection... This little boy placed his hand over my mouth and asked "Why do you sing all the time?"

I responded with, "Because God has restored my joy"

God is SO good.

I don't know if most of you know this or not but I had struggled with depression, and suicidal thoughts, self-mutilation and the like for 7 years of my life. It was a time plagued of despair.

BUT God is SO GOOD.

He has changed my despair into JOY. This Joy that I just CAN'T CONTAIN- so I sing. all the time. everywhere. anywhere (yes even on the toilet). It is amazing. I just feel so free, and not only songs that I know but Spontaneous Songs lifted toward the heavens proclaiming the things of God's kingdom on earth.

New Creation

I almost forgot to write about one of the most remarkable things that I have ever experienced in my life! It took place as I was walking in Downtown San Jose, after spending the night at my good friend (more like a sister) Cinthia’s house. That morning as I had woken up to a vision of a pair of crutches – it was a two part vision- part for me, and part for one of my friend. So naturally as I caught glimpse of a man sitting on the curbside with a pair of crutches, I was captivated. I couldn’t take my gaze off of him.

This man appeared as though he carried the weight of the world in the wrinkles of his face. He asked me for money. I asked him if I could sit with him. He said yes, and as I sat down- I saw many pair of eyes look at me with curiosity in their gaze. It was as if with their glances they were asking- why would she sit on the ground with HIM… but I enjoy the people of the streets- sometimes more than others- (have to keep my heart in check sometimes)

I asked this man if I could heal his leg. He lifted his pant leg and showed me that he had been shot in the knee, it was bandaged, and shorter than the other one. As I spoke healing to his leg, God showed me that he was holding bitterness in his heart against his brother. When I asked him if this was true, he said yes that his *@$% brother had left him to fend for his own on the streets after their mother died. That every day he passes him on the street and doesn’t greet him (this is huge for a latin American country as greetings are very much part of the culture). To this I shared about the forgiveness, how Jesus extends it to us, and invites us to do the same to others. He received it, asked Jesus for forgiveness, and forgave his brother.

I saw this weight lift off of him, and began again to speak healing to his leg. Then he started laughing and looking up at me he exclaimed “IT’S GROWING! IT’S GROWING.” This man’s leg grew out a good 6 inches, but had about 3 inches left to grow. I asked God to heal him 100% but God said that he had more to do over the course of several days. I shared this with the man, and told him not to believe anything that the enemy brings, and after explaining that the enemy is he who comes to condemn, cast guilt and shame, steal, kill, and destroy- I told him not to stand for it, to say no- In Jesus I am a new creation. He continued to exclaim as joy radiated from his face “I AM A NEW CREATION! I AM A NEW CREATION!”

Guarari

A community rejoices

And mourns

In the same breath

Grateful for the blessing

of precious moments shared.

Grieved to lose

Their tangible glimmer of hope

In the dreary world in which they live.

Though peoples faces come

and go

Encouragments and raising up

There is one with them remains

Tried and true

Hope anew

Mercy and grace

Together dispel the shame

That society has black-marked them with

From behind the walls

Their light will shine

And bring forth this glory divine.

And walls will fall

Brick by brick

Until the life outside

And life within

Will grow to greater heights

Seeds have been planted.

Beneath concrete they lay

Whose roots will grow strong

And push back these layers

From generations past

The rains will pour down

And heat of the sun will wear

Until the sprouts break free

Shattering the concrete

And all will see

The glory of our Lord in

Guarari

Unity in Love Transforms Communities

These past few weeks have been INCREDIBLE. I have been translating for a team from Spruce Groves, Canada, and it’s been such a pleasure. They have truly accepted me as a part of their team, and there is such unity between the translators and the team. We are working as one to raise up a community. I love their approach to missions. It is one of love in relationships. They have the mind of Christ in their worldview, and it is so refreshing to see. They have been coming to Costa Rica for the past five years and have established a really good relationship with the community of Guarari. Guarari is a community that has been overlooked and outcast in this country. The city even built a wall in front of the community so that its tin houses can’t be seen from the mall.

We would be swarmed with kids from the moment we arrived. We were divided into three teams, one for the construction site where we are building a new community center, and one for the Vacation Bible School, and a woman’s group. I love how no one is overlooked. The children have their Vacation Bible School, teach the women different crafts, and the men (including drunkards of the community)helped build. Among the team were four girls from a local church in Heredia, who helped this team do ministry- it was a time of empowerment for these girls of Heredia to minister to their own people.

One thing that was so exciting to see was these kids really become kids. These children are normally left to fend for themselves at home while their parents are involved in drugs or simply don’t pay them any mind. We took 80 of the children to a farm sort of situation with big open green grass fields to play soccer, a swimming pool, and a little park. It was such a beautiful experience.

There is something BIG going on within this community. The children who normally go on Saturdays for a weekly children’s ministry prayed every week for houses to replace their dirt floor tin walls and roof that surround them. The government started this housing program, chose Guarari, and from the WHOLE community those who have received the new houses are the CHILDREN WHO PRAYED FOR THEM! PRAISE JESUS!

We would have a little time for devotions in the morning so a small group of woman and I would get together to discuss the different prompts. From the beginning of the week I had been praying for God to tear down walls. Two of the woman had expressed that they wanted to open up and be able to share themselves with people, but that they were afraid of rejection. I was asking God to make their hearts cry out for that deep companionship that only comes from being completely vulnerable... and at the end of the week one of the prompts that we were asked was "what one thing do you want to exchange in your life for what God has for you" BAM Everyone poured out their hearts to each other, we were able to support, pray for, and have a deep sense of fellowship. It was incredible. I guess I've taken for granted my ability to make deep friendships. It seems that every country I go, every group i am with I have someone who I bear my heart to, and they with me. We stand in prayer with each other as sisters in Christ. Until this last week, I didn't realize what a precious and rare gift fellowship of the heart is.

Little Miss Susy Homemaker

...
With a handful of our staff gone for the week, translating in Sardinal, the rest of us had to pick up a little bit of slack. This is an example of a normal day...

4:30am - wake up spend time with Jesus :)
5:00am - run
5:30am - shower
6:00am - breakfast prep
7:00am - serve breakfast
10:30am- lunch prep
12:30am - serve lunch
1:00pm - lunch cleanup
(4:00pm - dinner prep
5:00pm - serve dinner... some days)
6:00pm- dinner cleanup
11:00pm - sleep :)

WHEW!

Last night the team came back, so I am looking forward to having a little bit of a break - and am so STOKED to start translating.