Friends and Family,
Hope you had a blessed February and find yourself looking forward to what March has in store for you!
February flew by as we took part in several ministry opportunities in the surrounding communities. This past month held many sweet moments and challenges as well! It was a refining month that brought me closer to the Fathers heart.
Ministry looked like continuing manual labor projects here on the base a couple days a week. We played a lot of soccer in the San Box community as well as a new community called Margarita. Soccer afternoons look like doing drills with the kids of course a game and we also try to include some testimonies of what the Lord has done in our lives and skits! The one evening the girls on my squad even had the opportunity to play a game against the communities’ women’s team! In Puerto Viejo and Bri Bri we continued outreach that looked like evangelism somedays, worship on the beach and trash cleanup on others.
This past weekend we had the incredible opportunity to spend a couple days in a small community called Suiri. Our squad went in two trips, so half the squad went last weekend and then my half just got back from being there the last four days. It was a sweet time of getting to serve this church community as well as be served by them! We helped with projects on the church grounds, lead a kid’s ministry event, family service Saturday night, Sunday morning service, Sunday school and women’s gathering Sunday afternoon! It sounds like a packed couple of days but, it was actually the most restful couple of days of being here in Costa Rica. Life is lived simply there, they treated us like family, the neighbor kids would come over to play and hangout despite the language barrier. (I have sparkly pink fingernails at the moment thanks to these new friends). Being in a smaller group than normal we each had the opportunity to really step into leading and challenged to be a part of the services and activities. I enjoyed organizing the schedule for the services making sure everything went smoothly as well as helping to lead Sunday school alongside one of my squamates. It was a refreshing weekend, and I am so grateful for the memories we made in the community of Suiri.
I personally was really challenged by this past month, manual labor is hard, living in community is hard and I found myself physically, and, mentally tired. Just because something is hard does not mean it is bad, I am thankful for the opportunity to be challenged. When we face things that are hard, we have no choice but to rely on God. The verse about God working through our weakness has been heavy on my heart and has been discussed frequently with my squad. If we had the strength, energy and answers to every question we wouldn’t need God and then what would be the point of being on the mission field. This month more than ever God has reminded us just how weak we are without him. We cannot do this work on our own, and he is glorified when we boast in our weaknesses! When we are tired it is an opportunity to ask the Lord for rest, when we do not have the words, we can ask holy spirit to speak through us. Praise the Lord missions is a partnership with him!
Some bitter sweet news…
We are heading to the Dominican Republic!! We only have a little over a week left here with YWAM Puerto Viejo before we head to debrief then on to our next country. The time here has flown by and I am sad to already be saying goodbyes. We do not know yet where we will be or what we are doing. However, we are looking forward to what God has in store for us in the DR.
Praises:
1) The sweet relationships and opportunities we have had with the people here in Costa Rica!
2) For refreshing ministry and rest in the community of Suiri this past weekend.
3) For God’s endless grace towards us and the fact that he is our source of strength and energy all day every day!
Prayer Requests:
1) Good closure here in Costa Rica with our base staff and hosts as well as with the communities we have served the last two months and that we would finish out strong!
2) Restful debrief that will help prepare and refresh us for our next ministry assignment.
3) Smooth Transition and safe travels to the Dominican Republic!
Thank you for following along with this journey and being faithful in supporting me through prayer!
Blessings,
Abigail
