I am not the "real" blogger on the team, but had the honor of serving as one of the team leaders. What a blessing! Since I'm not "real" blogger, I can't put into the right words what serving with this team of 22 servants meant to me. Notice I use the word "servants" and not "volunteers". One night, one of our devotionals talked about the difference in the two. That really had an impact on me. If you don't know the difference, consider these definitions: Volunteers serve at their own convenience, while servants serve at the discretion of the one who calls. In the early church, there were no "volunteers." There were only servant disciples. Doing ministry wasn't something Christians gave a few hours to each week. Rather, they devoted their lives to carrying on the misison and ministry of Jesus as directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. (definition taken from Change the World by Mike Slaughter.) Scripture reference: "Whoever serves me must follow me, andf where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." (John 12:26)
I believe the team God put together went with the minds of servants and not volunteers. To experience the difference with this group of people will live in my heart forever.
The people we meet in Costa Rica always hold a special place in my heart. From the children we were able to "love on" who live at the Methodist Children's Home to the pastor and his family and congregation members at the church that I simply call the Methodist Church up in the clouds to the ticos (workmen) on the worksite to the lady who cooked for us at the seminary to Ray Zirkel (our missionary) and his family to our bus drive, Javier, to the staff at Hotel Buena Vista where we spent two days relaxing after our work week and more.............. Costa Rica calls itself the "Happiest Country in the World" and somehow......I believe that! The people we meet live very simple (very poor by our standards) lives, yet they have such joy in their hearts! They worship with freedom and they love and serve with the Joy of the Lord in their hearts. Of course, I realize......we were serving and building right along beside fellow Christians who happen to be Costa Ricans, but somehow they exhibit a freedom and love that we "reserved Americans" seem to (by the most part) not enjoy. Why is that I wonder. Why are our lives so complicated? Why don't we worship and love with such joy and freedom?
I came to have a deep love for God's team and I am truly honored to have served with them. Because when I return home from Costa Rica, I will admit I fall right back into "busy-ness" (why do I do that?!?!?!?), my mind is already churning with plans for 2013 and a return trip to Costa Rica to serve along side my brothers and sisters in Costa Rica and the team God will put together to go again to the "Happiest Country in the World."
Pura Vida!!
