Hi everyone! Here’s a recap of our happenings in July:
We were stationed in a beachy (but rainy), touristy (and very expensive!) town called Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
The town has a deep history of voodoo and witchcraft due to the spiritism and occult practices often found in the Caribbean. Puerto Viejo also has a lot of foreigners living there, people who are either looking for something or running away from something. They survive by peddling vegan salsas, organic chocolate balls, and homemade juices at the local market each Saturday.
Our host was Glenda Brown — she and her husband Roland are doing WONDERFUL things for the community of Puerto Viejo. Glenda is the president of the town’s Cultural House, and they have a house they are using to help victims of poverty get back on their feet — this place is called Restoration House.
We worked at a daycare, picking up trash and leaves in the garden and playground; we also painted the inside of Restoration House and one room in a local church.
My teammate Katie and I worked at the Cultural House throughout the week. Katie set them up with a Facebook page, and I designed a logo and letterhead for them. We also helped organize and sort books for the future library they are going to be implementing.
I did lots of street evangelism — one day at the market, but most days I sang and played worship music and shared the Gospel right outside our house. It was a busy street, and I had several opportunities to pray for people, talk to people, and share the Good News of salvation thru Christ Jesus.
I’m not quite ready to talk about it in detail yet, but by the Grace and Mercy of God, I was delivered from several strongholds by our squad leader Sam and my team leader Karen. I am SO GRATEFUL to be free of all of that stuff, and I am happy to say that the Holy Spirit is the only indwelling spirit in my heart. Praise Jesus. He is ALIVE. 🙂
God has been moving in the lives of several of my friends back home. So much of my time off was spent ministering to these friends and sharing Scripture and words with them.
And finally, I celebrated my 1-year birthday with Jesus on July 27th. 🙂 My secular birthday was back in May, but I don’t celebrate that one anymore. For I tell you the truth, God could have made me from these stones (Matthew 3:9). And what is the point in celebrating a life that only gives birth to death? So it’s my spiritual birthday — my rebirth — that I now celebrate. I love Jesus, and He blessed me in such big ways on my very first birthday with Him. It was a really, really good day. 🙂
We are now in Nicaragua, and I will be updating the blog soon with details about our ministry here.
God bless you, and thank you so much for all your prayers and support!
