This team had a large variety of planned ministry opportunities, but we found that the things that weren’t planned… like the “free time” brought just as much—if not more—joy.
For instance, there were several teachers on this trip—one for art, one for construction, and one football coach. Each of them were able to use their skills to serve the Lord.
When Pastor Marcos heard there was an artist on the team, he showed Connie a pencil drawing on a wall of the church that had been there for a year. That afternoon, a group of us went to buy paint, and they started working on it that night. It isn’t entirely finished, but it looks beautiful… and I was even able to paint a little as well. It feels awesome to know we helped bring beauty to the church!
The final few days of the trip were children’s ministry. And on the final day, Saturday, we loaded up a bus and took the kids to the country, where they played games in a field… everything from freeze tag to water balloon fights. It was wonderful to see their joy. My favorite part of the day was the slip-n-slide, which ironically involved soap… and by the end, everyone was covered in mud. The delight on these kids faces (young and old), can tell you the story better than I!
One final story for this post… it’s another incredible example to me of how we are never really “off duty”, whether as Christians or as missionaries… that free time is not our own.
July 4 was the team’s off day, made extra special because of Independence Day. The team chose to see more of the beautiful country and go to the beach. We got up early and took a bus ride to Punta Rena, on the Central Pacific coast.
Before going, Pastor Marcos made sure we knew to be careful on the beach, because of the tide. He told us that it could get very strong, and not to swim too far out.
So we get there, and it’s a beautiful day. Rain clouds start coming in, however, as it is rainy season. Still, we walked the beach, met people, and some students shopped at a local market. Right before lunch, we all gathered on the beach, where many people, I included, went swimming.
Before I went in the water, I saw where the team was swimming and noted that it was pretty close to shore. When I got in the water, I realized why. While not a rip tide in any means, it had a very strong pull.
We rode waves and dove under them, laughing, and having fun. Then… a noise came above the waves:
“Ayuda! Ayada!”
A woman, maybe 50 feet to my right, also in the water, yelling, “Help! Help!” and pointing maybe 20-30feet in front of her.
Then I saw his head.
Everything in me froze. I’m not a great swimmer, and having felt the tide, I knew that a) he was too far away for me to reach in time to help him and b) if I tried… I wouldn’t make it. I don’t know when I’ve ever felt more helpless, seeing someone drowning, wanting to help, but being unable to do so because physically, I couldn’t.
Then, running into the water, I saw two men from our team, Chuck and “Coach” Andy, running side by side. They matched each other step for step. And you know what… it “seemed” like more than just them… if you know what I mean. I didn’t physically see angels or anything, but what I saw was…. more than just two men, even though that’s all my eyes registered. They had a … company… about them.
Those of us swimming watched as they ran into the waves, started swimming, passed the woman, and finally reached the man floating where the waves were breaking.
He was limp… unconscious.
I watched as the man slipped under water, and neither Chuck nor Andy could see him. Andy dove under, lifted his body, and Chuck flipped him upright… then they carried him to shore.
By then I was on shore, watching, praying…. And even from a distance, could see that this man, a large, young Tico (Costa Rican), was blue.
Everything is a blur from there. Chuck and Andy laid the man on the beach. I looked around and saw the teens from the team standing in small circles, praying for this man’s life. Connie rushed over to translate for the people gathered around the man. The man started coughing up water and blood, his body desperately trying to clear his lungs. It took over half an hour for the paramedics to arrive and take him to a hospital. But the men and Connie, because the nationals were just standing around watching, actually directed the aid efforts. They shared Christ with the man and his girlfriend and those around… they prayed over his life.
When they left, they were told that he would be all right.
So, on the team’s “day off”, God used them to save a man’s life—literally.
There’s a song we play for all of our teams that says, “for such a time as this”. It was no coincidence that we were on that beach that day… that time. And it was all for God’s glory.
Todo. Everything… A Su gloria.
