As you are sipping your coffee reading this blog Brenda and I are in Alajuelita, Costa Rica with our wonderful church, Turning Point Church on a short term mission trip. We are joining with a local church, Iglesia, Cristiana Alajuelita, to help build a home for a wonderful family. Karolina and her four children live in a rundown shack that has no floor. We will pour cement, build walls, run wires and lights to show her the extravagant love of God.
Many of my friends have asked me why we chose to go on this trip with all the other things we already have on our plate. Let me share a couple of them with you.
- Community: Brenda and I are still trying to get used to the fact that we are now “Floridians.” We realize the best way to accomplish this is to begin building friendships and relationships with a new community of people. A great way to do this is to join hands and serve others in need. Here is a picture of the team we are going with.
- Service: We believe one of the greatest ways to serve Christ is to serve others in his name. There is a story in the New Testament where Jesus is commending a group of people for serving him faithfully. He thanked them for feeding him and dressing him and giving him a cold glass of water when he was in need. They asked him when did we do these things for you? Look at what he says, “Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.” (The Message) As we serve Karolina and her children we are serving Christ.
- Faith: Alajuelita is one of the poorest barrios in Costa Rica. Some of the neighborhoods are dangerous, water unsafe to drink, and of course there will be a significant language barrier. We know we are going to be stretched as we will have to trust in God to accomplish what at times seems to be the impossible. It is all too easy to let your faith grow old and stale. I am sure our time in Alajuelita will help freshen things up a bit.
- Focus: Serving others who are in greater need then yourself is one of the best ways to keep your focus on what really matters. I am sure there are some of you are growing weary of the ongoing saga of our moving, selling homes, building homes, and on and on it goes. I know I am! We are praying and hoping a week in Costa Rica will “reboot” our hearts and minds to keep focused on what it really important in life.
Please pray for our safety, for our effectiveness, and for Karolina and her family to see, feel, and experience the love of God!