I’m back home from Costa Rica and I honestly wish I was still there. I can’t adequately describe the beauty of the country or of the people. Once again I was reminded of my love and passion for the Spanish language and the culture of Latin America. It was very difficult to leave, and I already want to go back. God did amazing things in and through our team.
Over 750 people accepted Christ during the two and a half weeks we were there. 750 people!! That’s 750 more brothers and sisters. 750 more souls crossing from death to life. It was incredible. When one sinner comes to repentance, the angels rejoice in heaven – I can only imagine the celebration they must have been having during the past few weeks in Costa Rica!!
Personally, I felt the Lord leading me to full-time missions in Latin America, and I finally decided to surrender to that calling. I have been interested in missions for a few years, but never felt God really calling me to do it full-time. I knew this experience in Mexico will be awesome, but I just figured I would “do” missions for the year and then come home and live a “normal” life afterwards. But one Sunday in a Costa Rican church my youth pastor was preaching and he said that God’s heart is for lost people. That’s what He’s about. When I thought about my heart and my passions (Spanish, cultures, building relationships…) and God’s heart (for the nations, lost people), I realized how my loves fit perfectly with God’s passions. It’s what I was created for.
To me, it just doesn’t make sense to say I want to follow the Lord and then not go after what’s closest to His heart. Honestly, I really was hesitant at first to say yes to Jesus because full-time missions is so different from a few weeks in the summer or even a year-long trip. Full-time missions becomes life. That’s what makes it so scary. It requires surrender on so many levels. But for the first time, I knew that God was calling me to it and I said yes. So even though I have fears and concerns, I’m going to follow Him and continue to trust Him. I’m excited to see where He wants me.
Anyways…the trip was a great experience, and God did so much in my heart and also in the lives of the Costa Ricans. It feels weird to be back here and it’s kind of sad. I don’t feel at home here. When I’m in Paraguay or Costa Rica (basically in Latin America), I feel most at home.
My heart sort of comes alive and I feel like I belong there. That’s neat because that makes sense along with what God has been calling me to. My heart is aching to go back, but I know that right now isn’t the time. And I know I have Mexico to be looking toward. As the time draws nearer, I get more excited and more nervous. The reality of it all really hit me when I got home and Costa Rica was finished. I can’t believe that we’ll all be together in like 5 or 6 weeks. It’s crazy, but cool at the same time. Well, I guess I’ll stop there for now. Please, please, please pray for me as I attempt to adjust to my “normal” life. It’s always a struggle for me coming back after mission trips, but it’s a part of the process and I need to fight through it.
