The Hardest Goodbye

Our time in Costa Rica is already at a close. It has been the FASTEST month of my life – a complete 180 from the month previous. Although it was fast, it also feels as though I’ve known this community my whole life!

We were welcomed into the family on day 1, and introduced to the church and the community right away. When we walked around town, we would see people we knew everywhere! (Kauai friends – you know what that’s like, it’s beautiful, right?) It felt like home to walk around and see friends left and right and all over. 

 It has been an honor to serve Iglesia Monte de Sion del Evangelio Cuadrangular. Last night, our last night in Nicoya, our host led a church service for us. My whole team got to share our testimonies in front of the church (in spanish!!:))  and then Pastor Basilio and his wife brought us all to the front and washed each of our feet and prayed over us.

It was very humbling – I do not deserve the love and kindness that our hosts showed us last night and this past month. But that act of kindness was such a beautiful example of Jesus Christ. When Jesus washed His disciples feet, I just picture how dirty they were from walking, traveling, and doing the will of Jesus. As they were washing our feet I just thought about how we walked for miles and miles, going from house to house and sharing the love of Jesus with the community, and how it seemed so significant that the hosts that we came to serve ended up on their knees, serving us and setting a beautiful example of what Jesus so humbly did for his disciples.

Sharing my testimony in Spanish for the church

I learned so much this month and just wanted to share with you some of the little pieces that I am holding in my heart as I go.

1. Being bold in your faith doesn’t always have to be related to speaking… it can be praying or giving boldly (thanks Karen for this!). I saw this a LOT this month – prayer was our biggest ministry.  

2. The small things make a big impact. Some days this past month felt like I wasn’t doing enough but the new friends I’ve made here have shared that we made an impact in their hearts. Little actions and comments that I didn’t think twice about actually touched these friends deeply. It was so encouraging to hear that this journey is making a difference, but it was also a good reminder that our actions matter. So it’s important to be aware of what we do, even when we don’t think people are watching or paying attention.

3. When the Lord draws you in close…it is a gift to accept! Intimacy with the Lord is something I have been praying for the last three months, and this month I experienced the Lord in a way I never have before. I don’t know how to explain it…but all I gotta say is that He hears prayers and He desires intimacy with YOU. So pray for and accept the gift because it’s incredible.

4. Lastly, GO ALL OUT !! #SENDITFORCHRIST !! Seriously – this is the first month that I have felt fully connected, fully free…to love, to pray, to minister to people…and even though this goodbye is the hardest by far…it is also the most beautiful. The relationships created this month are ones that I hold in my heart. My heart has been impacted by these people more than they could ever know. Sometimes I find myself closed off to building relationships with people, because I love deeply and quickly and switching countries every month is difficult on the heart strings. But choosing to love people fiercely, like Jesus did to perfect strangers, has been the most impactful thing I have experienced this whole Race. I want to challenge you who is reading this to love people hard – the baristas, the cashiers, the people you pass by when you’re walking your dog…because it matters and people see your actions and sending it for Jesus will elevate your joy and make you bold and bring you into the arms of the Father in a beautiful way!!!!

Our last Sunday with our friend Juanita <3

Saying goodbye to Diana last night

So with that all said… I have some updates! 

• I AM 90% FUNDED!!!! So crazy!! When I started this fundraising journey 11 MONTHS AGO (crazy) I had no idea what the Lord would do or how He was going to do it, but He told me to trust Him and I’ve done that as hard as I possibly could this past almost-year! I have less than $1,700 left to raise, and my final deadline, the deadline to be fully funded, is November 30th! A mere 3 weeks away! 
• We are no longer going to Asia! This came as a big shock – I was praying hard that the Lord would open those doors. Because of Covid, however, this will no longer be a part of our route. Instead, we will be spending an extra month in South America (Hello, Peru!) and then we will be finishing the rest of the race in Africa! It is a lot to process lol. But I am trusting that the Lord is going to keep working no matter what country I end up in.
• Lastly, we are heading to Nicaragua in two days, and this upcoming month’s ministry is going to be ATL (Ask the Lord!) There is no lodging, food, or ministry planned for us…our job is to ask the Lord and see where He takes us. This being said, we have prayed as a team and we will be spending our first two weeks in the city of Managua, Nicaragua! We are still praying/figuring out just about everything else, but I will keep you all updated as it comes 😀

Prayer requests:

• That the last $1700 I need for my race would come swiftly as I near the final deadline of November 30th! 
• That my squad would be listening for the Holy Spirit, trusting the Lord, and that we would walk boldly in confidence as we step into a month completely unplanned and fully dependent on God!
• For the ministry in Costa Rica that we are leaving, that the church would flourish and continue to grow, and that Pastor Basilio and his family would touch many lives as they pour out their hearts to the community.

Some pics to wrap up the month:

The whole crew together last night

All the sad goodbyes of yesterday! Esteban, Diana, Aaron…I wish I could stay!

Praying for healing at a home visit

A note from one of the youth girls we got to know this month <3

The most beautiful Costa Rican sunset.

Officially on the road and headed to San Jose…stopped for a pic by the sea 🙂