Last of the summer.

Today is the last day abroad for the summer and I’ve spent the morning reflecting on the miraculous things that God has done through the teams. The people I’ve met, the babies I’ve held, the lives that were transformed, the churches I’ve worshiped in and more than anything, the relationships that have been formed with people across the globe. Leaving here tomorrow means something different than it has in previous years. I’m leaving here tomorrow with an unknown future and a world of possibility. I’m leaving knowing that my heart is so deeply imbedded in missions that I have the fear of not finding true happiness back home. This is the first year I’m leaving without having a new semester to go home to, and while it’s slightly scary having no idea what’s coming next, I’m excited to see how I can be used in a new city with a new church and new people. I’ve been praying for guidance as to what’s next and always find an answer that involves coordinating and facilitating short-term mission teams. The only thing that stands between me and that answer is financial support to survive as a missionary living in the States. I know my heart is there for a reason and I know that if it’s His plan, the money is already there… I just selfishly wish I knew where my path was headed!

Yesterday we started the day with breakfast before heading to the beach for surfing lessons. I tried surfing when I was about 13 when I had too much limb for my muscles to catch up with. Although I’m still lacking in the coordination department, I know how to put one foot in front of the other without falling down. I’ve been having some internal ear issues since cliff diving on Sunday and I was debating whether or not I wanted to get back in the water. The decision was easy when nobody wanted to go first and I found myself face down, paddling through the gigantic waves listening to Gustavo’s instruction. The one thing I remember about my previous attempt at surfing was the full-body soreness the next day and I quickly remembered why. I was able to stand up and catch the first few waves but as the waves grew taller my body grew tired. I got to the point where my muscles were shaking and I physically couldn’t push my body up to a standing position. I was able to take a knee for a few waves and eventually lost all control. I rode the last wave of the day on my belly, where I probably could have fallen asleep. I spent the rest of the morning sitting on a log talking while some of the team met the boys from the river to play soccer. This week we met two girls, Lisa and Liz who work with WYAM and have been living here for about 4 ½ months. One of the girls is from Petoskey, MI, which is where my mom is from and where most of my relatives on that side of the family live. The other is from Canada and they’ve really given their lives to missions and had some awesome stories to share about their endless experiences. They’d mentioned Scott as their YWAM leader but until yesterday, I hadn’t had the chance to meet him. After meeting him and spending time with him, I feel like I need to share something that happened to him and his family last week because I’m still sitting here in awe.

When I met Scott, he was the tall guy working in a skate park with “Jesus te ama” written on the ramp. He has the cool factor I keep on talking about and just walks shining a respectable welcoming love. He’s guiding kids to take part in the extreme sports that they love without taking on the lifestyle that stereotypically comes with them. Scott shared that he used to have a drug addiction and after rehabilitation and meeting Jesus, he has been clean for almost 20 years. Scott is being used in amazing ways and was an inspiration as I listened to his testimony that confirmed why God lets bad things happen to us. I selfishly love when He lets us see the good that comes out of what may seem like the end of the world.

Last week, Scott was home with his kids and left them outside to play while he went inside to get towels for the pool. He was inside longer than expected and noticed that he couldn’t hear his 18-month-old anymore. Scott went outside and when the baby wasn’t there, he asked his older son where he went. As he turned towards the house to look inside, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was his son, face down at the bottom of the pool. He immediately jumped in and grabbed him, only to find out that he was not breathing, was blue in the face and didn’t have a heartbeat. Scott sat on the side of the pool holding his dead baby as he cried out in anger. A neighbor who attends Radical heard what was going on and screamed for him to do CPR. Scott did 4 chest compressions and 1 breath, which lead to a wheezing sound. Still thinking there was no chance, Scott turned him on his side and heard something beautiful: a cough. The baby coughed up a little bit of water and while his eyes were still rolled back, he was alive. Scott doesn’t know how long he was at the bottom of the pool but after rushing him to the hospital and finding out there was no brain damage, no pneumonia and no damage done (except for the emotional effect on Scott and his wife), he knew that it was a miracle. After all of this happened, he found out that his best friend woke up startled at 6am that day after a night terror of a baby laying at the bottom of a pool. He felt a close connection with the baby and knew he needed to pray. Another member at the church saw Jesus breathing into the baby’s mouth and called Scott to tell him that he needed to know that this was not an earthly survival and that God spared his life. Scott said that as they visited doctors that afternoon, he was nervous when the baby slept for 2 straight hours, unaware of the tests that they were doing. I told Scott that he’d be tired too if he went to heaven and back in one morning! I can’t imagine what that baby would have to say if he could talk and I hope I’m around to see the purpose he has for his life…

After surfing, we went to the river for the last time to finish the house and play with the kids. I got to help the guys and a few of the girls carry cement buckets across the river, collect rocks and touch up the painting. There’s nothing easy about the last day at a worksite but it was nice knowing we’d see everyone again. That night we went to David and Pamela’s for dinner and it was a picture-perfect example of the beauty of hospitality. I wasn’t sure what to expect and was blown away with appreciation for the ministry. When we arrived, Ari and Lydia were playing dress-up while Andrea and Pamela talked in the kitchen. Gustavo and David were outside by the pool with the boys and Pamela’s dad, who is visiting from Chile, was observing the madness. The door was open and as David thanked the team he thanked God for the house, saying that it was His and that they were blessed to have us in it. This is another example of a faith-in-action realization for me. I read Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado and was inspired by the part about hospitality, but until you really see it being practiced it’s hard to grasp. David and Pamela truly stand by their beliefs that everything that they have is God’s and they’ll use it however He wants them to. In the few hours that we were there, Jessica and Fernando came over, Scott stopped in and nobody was turned away. God provides the food and the house and we all gather in His name… it seems so simple but we tend to make it so difficult! Who pays for the meal, who brings what, who is invited or allowed in are just a few of the many excuses we make to justify our closed door policy and we’re really missing out on something great.

On Wednesday morning, David gave us the background and a tour of the Bridges of Hope program. I may have mentioned it in previous blogs, but this is a program that was started after David’s pastor visited Costa Rica and told him he needed to create a program for the teenagers to find a way out of the dangerous cycle they’re faced with. David had absolutely no idea how he would do such a thing and after a chat with the big guy, the answer was “carving wood, stay out of it.” I wish I’d videotaped David telling the story because it’s impossible (as usual) to accurately relay the humor and miracle behind the beginning of Bridges of Hope. After a massive donation of teak wood and the service of individuals that were created for the job, these teenage boys are learning to carve wood and make rocking chairs, tables, crosses and other useful items to sell. In the process of all of this, other people donated tools and a workshop for the boys. David, a retired cabinetmaker from the states, now runs the program and starts each day with scripture and fellowship to set an example for the boys. There’s also a girls branch of the program and they’ve been making jewelry out of shells, beads and other items that are found on the beaches of Jaco.

On Wednesday afternoon we told everybody from the river to meet us at the beach to spend our last day together. It was a chance to sit and see the beauty of the relationships that were formed throughout the week. They finished what they could on the house but it was clear that they’d truly spent time loving and getting to know the people that we were working with. Circle Community understands what it means to be a missionary and that what we do is more than what just anybody could do. Many of their group discussions included the discussion of the difference between teams that come to build things and teams that come to build relationships. That afternoon I had my last opportunity to spend time with Paula and we sat on a log crying together looking out at everybody playing soccer and splashing in the water. She had me pinkie-promise her that I’d be back again, and I made the promise. Who knew pinkie-promises were universal? It was a hard afternoon knowing that I was leaving a place where everything makes sense. Not just Costa Rica but the place could be anywhere on the mission field. The place where your sole purpose is to love and be loved, and to go wherever you’re sent. You wake up every day and spend time with people that share your beliefs and passions and are able to openly talk about what you’re experiencing. There’s never a question of judgment and people genuinely care about you and what you’re going through. It’s scary leaving a place like that, especially with an unknown future. I’m constantly reminding myself and asking for help to live in today, love today and not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has troubles of it’s own (Matthew 6:34).

Thank you to IsleGo, the people of Jamaica and Costa Rica and to each and every individual on the teams that blessed me each day. My family continues to grow and it was a summer that opened my eyes and heart to God’s love around the world.