Overwhelming as usual -- in a good way.

The other night, we stood in front of our house watching lightning coming from one of the three volcanoes that surround our city (you read that right).  The other night, we saw a sloth literally dangling from a telephone cable (that one, too).  And this weekend we’re going to a rain forest where there are glow-in-the-dark mushrooms (ditto).

I'm currently "borrowing" Keith's photo from the beach at Manuel Antonio to show another wonderful nature scene from here in Costa Rica:

The question so frequently on the front of our minds is: are Costa Ricans so used to nature that they take it for granted?  I mean, you can’t hide from it.  You have to get used to it, right?

For us Kentucky college students living down here, we still aren’t used to the natural surprises every corner brings.  In fact, I love it so much I wish I could take home photos, paintings and maybe even actual parts of the landscape with me from here.  Today we found the most precious man who sits on a step in downtown San José painting beautiful works of Costa Rican life.  He can’t read; he can’t write, but he sure can paint.  (Don’t worry, we took home some proof.)

While we were talking to this gentleman, a young Costa Rican (or tico) man came up to us, and (in English—they can always tell we’re not from around here!) he started talking about how talented this older man was but that no one ever buys from him.  So we continued talking to this other guy as well (mainly Keith, he was excited to talk in English, I think).  Through the Spirit of God, Keith poured so much love into this young man!  He shared his testimony and prayed fervently with him.

After we finished our nearly-3-hour-long conversations with our new friends Manuel and the painter José, we arrived at our host home for the night.  At dinner, our host mom proceeded to tell us all sorts of stories...

Her son Christian (our tico bro!) was supposed to be a twin, but the other didn’t make it.  She told us that she just cried and cried forever, and one day she realized that she wasn’t rejoicing for the birth of her son that was alive!  She spent so much time mourning the loss of the one that never lived outside her womb, that she hadn’t thanked the Lord for the one was breathing and healthy.

After that, she told me that every morning while in the shower she prays for the entire time.  When she’s feeling the presence of the water, she feels the closest to God.  She pointed out that water is a gift from God, and as simple as it seems, it’s so incredibly powerful.  Alba (our host mom) doesn’t need the volcanoes, colorful birds or glorified nightlights made out of fungus.  She just needs…water.

And every time she prays without fail, she weeps for her mother who passed away a few years ago.  As someone who didn’t have much contact with her father growing up, she said she can’t say much for a dad.  But according to her, losing a mom is the worst feeling in the world because her mother was her best friend.

Well, today is my mom’s birthday (July 25^th at least, who knows when I’ll finally post this entry).  Alba reminded me how lucky I am to be able to video chat with my mom on her birthday, and wanted me to specifically tell her, “I wish many more happy years for her!  God bless her!”

So many things happened today, I don’t even know if this post could possibly make sense…I think all I can take out of it is this: see God in the little things as much as the big ones, take every chance you get to share the love of Christ with someone, and love your mom.

Happy Birthday Mom!  I love you!

Change that attitude!

Oh, hello, rain forest.
 

 
Just yesterday, a few of us from our summer program traveled to a nutrition center to paint a classroom (not pictured above, I just wanted to show that photo from our trip last weekend).  We had to get up fairly early as usual, and take a 45-minute bus ride to this little building which serves a healthy breakfast and lunch to nearby preschool-age children.  Because it was early, we all had lots of homework (we have final exams today), and it was far too long of a trip to take so early in the morning, admittedly, very few of us were excited to go.

I was not the only one that considered skipping in order to sleep in a bit.  But I found some self-discipline within me, and I went anyways.  There were only about 10 of us, everyone was super eager to serve, sing along with the music and even get splattered by lots of paint.  My host mom even picked all the dried paint out of my hair for me—how nice!

As the morning went along and my mood improved, I realized just how terrible of an attitude I had.  When I was in Panamá doing “mission work,” why would I have complained?  But now that I have an opportunity to serve under the supervision of an academic institution with friends and fellow students, it’s apparently okay to be grumpy about it.

Thankfully, though, I don’t think God considers “mission work” any holier or more sanctified than general service if both are done with the same intentions—to love God and love people.

I’ve realized how often I have a good attitude about attending church, leading a bible study, praying with friends or going on a mission trip.  But then I try to get out of other activities, complain about going to work, and definitely dread the thought of going to class.  But in God’s eyes, does the “mission” end when the plane lands back in the States?  Does sharing the gospel stop when the freshmen bible study is over?  Am I finished worshipping upon the closing prayer?

Plane flights, service projects, memory verses, church camps, worship services, matching t-shirts and bible studies are great, but they are not the trip.  They aren’t even the mission.

Spreading the love of the Kingdom is our mission, and life is our trip.  It started upon my rebirth and it finishes when I go Home.  Today is another day to serve and love, and tomorrow is, too.  When I return to Panamá, Louisville, and Lexington, I’ll be living the same mission; I’ll be on the same trip.

Now that’s what I’ve always wanted…a mission trip that never had to end!

Lesson learned.

This weekend we traveled to the beach, and after many hours on a bus, many hours at the ocean, a few hours white water rafting this morning and lots of sun, I am beat!  But it was such an incredible weekend!  In the wild, we saw toucans, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, iguanas, sloths, crocodiles, frogs, a snake eating a frog and thousands of crabs of all shapes, colors and sizes.

We were definitely immersed in creation this weekend (as that’s pretty normal here in Costa Rica).  It’s amazing how after being in Central America for over a month, I have gotten used to the scenery, but I never get used to the awe.

Even beyond creation, I must learn to never count out what God has in store.  Last Wednesday night, some of us had the opportunity to go meet a bunch of teenagers for a bible study.  It reminded me so much of my fellas in Panamá who I miss so much.  At the end of the discussion, one of the leaders gave some of the soundest advice I’ve ever heard.

She explained to the youth that one must be a disciple or a follower of Christ before he or she must do anything else.  She told them that they don’t have to act or think or dress or feel any different in order to follow Him.  It was after they started following Him, that change comes.

I began wondering… how many times do I assume we must be at a certain point in our lives before we can follow Jesus?  Do I live as though anyone is welcome to make that decision?

Then I took it more personally… I’ve made the decision to follow Jesus.  And with that decision, with being a follower of Christ, I should look more like Him.  Over time, I must start believing and doing things the way He would do them—constantly growing and becoming more holy.  I’ve realized that I must put comfort and complacency to rest, for a life plagued by those focuses more on the mold itself than the Person that’s molding it.