Domingo! My last full day here :(
Sunday was another long and busy day. Brooke, Megan, and I got up early to catch the bus to Coronado to go to church. Unfortunately, we got to the bus stop right as the Coronado bus had left, so we had to wait another 30 minutes before the next one came. When we got to the Coronado bus station, we needed to either walk up that horrible hill again, or wait another 20 minutes on another bus to get there to take us to the church. So, we started walking and we end up meeting Oscar, one of our friends from church, walking towards the bus station to wait on the bus. So we took that as a sign that God didn't want us walking and we went and waited with him. (Thanks God! That hill is torture!) We got to the "10:00" service at about 10:40. There was lots of worship, lots of talking in Spanish, and a lot less Pentecostal stuff than the night before, and over 3 hours later, we are done around 1:45. Although that is a super long service to us in the States, it is a nice feeling to know that the worship service is led by the Spirit and not by a planned out by the minute schedule.
Since I couldn't understand anything that was being said in the service. I spent that time praying, listening to the Lord, and reflecting on my week here. All I could think about was how I did not want to leave :( I found family here, my brothers and sisters in Christ! I look around the room and see so many faces that, although I have only known for a few days, I am going to miss.
After service, Brooke, Megan, and I walked down the hill to the bus station and rode the bus back to San Jose. As soon as we get back to our apartment and eat, we have to go downstairs and prepare for the Casa Agape service that LightForce and YWAM do every Sunday afternoon. Anna and Laura were in a meeting so we started sweeping and mopping the downstairs. We had been told the day before that there would be some kids coming, so we needed to find something for them to do in the classroom. Little did we know that they would come way early and that there would be 20 of them! So we quickly pulled out our crafts supplies and just went for it. The kids were having a blast drawing on the chalkboard wall, coloring, and letting me paint their faces. There were 5 boys that were about 10 years old that were writing their names on the board. When I tried to say one of their names I though the K at the beginning was an R, so I said it completely wrong. The boys thought it was the funniest thing they had ever heard. (To protect the boys I can't tell you the name.) But the rest of the night the boys would say my made-up name over and over. Before they left, we were playing monkey in the middle with bean bags, and every single time they threw the bag, they would yell the name. They were having so much fun and there was so much joy on their faces. And I loved begin a part of that. After they all left, I found a paper that the boy had written his actual name on. It is in my book right now and I don't imagine ever throwing it away.
While we were inside the classroom with the kids, the YWAM and LightForce staff were in the main room worshipping with people from the streets. Everytime they go out on the streets, they invite the prostitutes to this church service. The service is specifically for them. We bring them into our environment, love them, worship with them, pray over them, feed them, and love them some more.
The kids that were there with us were either church of the prostitutes and had come with them, or were in dangerous situations and had come with the YWAM ministry. One of the girls there was fourteen and was being trafficked. I didn't realize that until after everyone had left and our team was debriefing. And then all I could thing was: I painted her face. I held her hand. I laughed with here. She was FOURTEEN and being TRAFFICKED. WHY?
I knew that underage trafficking happened. It is very prevalent here in Costa Rica. But it wasn't until I realized that I had looked into the eyes of a girl that was in that situation, that I really felt impact of it on my heart. I still haven't processed that experience yet. I am just writing my thoughts as they come. But ask that you be in prayer for this young girl. Because of this abuse at such an early age, she acts as if she is a 10 year old girl, such a child at heart. I can not give a name or any details, but just PRAY FOR HER. And for all of the many boys and girls that are just like her. Young boys and girls being trafficked for sex through the brothels and streets of Costa Rica and all around the world.
PS. I posted this right before leaving for the airport on Monday morning so please be in prayer for my flight to LaGrange and drive home to Moultrie on Tuesday to be with family and hopefully the new baby soon!
Sunday was another long and busy day. Brooke, Megan, and I got up early to catch the bus to Coronado to go to church. Unfortunately, we got to the bus stop right as the Coronado bus had left, so we had to wait another 30 minutes before the next one came. When we got to the Coronado bus station, we needed to either walk up that horrible hill again, or wait another 20 minutes on another bus to get there to take us to the church. So, we started walking and we end up meeting Oscar, one of our friends from church, walking towards the bus station to wait on the bus. So we took that as a sign that God didn't want us walking and we went and waited with him. (Thanks God! That hill is torture!) We got to the "10:00" service at about 10:40. There was lots of worship, lots of talking in Spanish, and a lot less Pentecostal stuff than the night before, and over 3 hours later, we are done around 1:45. Although that is a super long service to us in the States, it is a nice feeling to know that the worship service is led by the Spirit and not by a planned out by the minute schedule.
Since I couldn't understand anything that was being said in the service. I spent that time praying, listening to the Lord, and reflecting on my week here. All I could think about was how I did not want to leave :( I found family here, my brothers and sisters in Christ! I look around the room and see so many faces that, although I have only known for a few days, I am going to miss.
After service, Brooke, Megan, and I walked down the hill to the bus station and rode the bus back to San Jose. As soon as we get back to our apartment and eat, we have to go downstairs and prepare for the Casa Agape service that LightForce and YWAM do every Sunday afternoon. Anna and Laura were in a meeting so we started sweeping and mopping the downstairs. We had been told the day before that there would be some kids coming, so we needed to find something for them to do in the classroom. Little did we know that they would come way early and that there would be 20 of them! So we quickly pulled out our crafts supplies and just went for it. The kids were having a blast drawing on the chalkboard wall, coloring, and letting me paint their faces. There were 5 boys that were about 10 years old that were writing their names on the board. When I tried to say one of their names I though the K at the beginning was an R, so I said it completely wrong. The boys thought it was the funniest thing they had ever heard. (To protect the boys I can't tell you the name.) But the rest of the night the boys would say my made-up name over and over. Before they left, we were playing monkey in the middle with bean bags, and every single time they threw the bag, they would yell the name. They were having so much fun and there was so much joy on their faces. And I loved begin a part of that. After they all left, I found a paper that the boy had written his actual name on. It is in my book right now and I don't imagine ever throwing it away.
While we were inside the classroom with the kids, the YWAM and LightForce staff were in the main room worshipping with people from the streets. Everytime they go out on the streets, they invite the prostitutes to this church service. The service is specifically for them. We bring them into our environment, love them, worship with them, pray over them, feed them, and love them some more.
The kids that were there with us were either church of the prostitutes and had come with them, or were in dangerous situations and had come with the YWAM ministry. One of the girls there was fourteen and was being trafficked. I didn't realize that until after everyone had left and our team was debriefing. And then all I could thing was: I painted her face. I held her hand. I laughed with here. She was FOURTEEN and being TRAFFICKED. WHY?
I knew that underage trafficking happened. It is very prevalent here in Costa Rica. But it wasn't until I realized that I had looked into the eyes of a girl that was in that situation, that I really felt impact of it on my heart. I still haven't processed that experience yet. I am just writing my thoughts as they come. But ask that you be in prayer for this young girl. Because of this abuse at such an early age, she acts as if she is a 10 year old girl, such a child at heart. I can not give a name or any details, but just PRAY FOR HER. And for all of the many boys and girls that are just like her. Young boys and girls being trafficked for sex through the brothels and streets of Costa Rica and all around the world.
PS. I posted this right before leaving for the airport on Monday morning so please be in prayer for my flight to LaGrange and drive home to Moultrie on Tuesday to be with family and hopefully the new baby soon!
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