Serving Others

(a message from Chuck Jones)

It’s Wednesday, and San Carlos has awakened to a bright and sunny day! When it is clear, from our hotel we can see Mt. Arenal, an active volcano about 50 miles away that is in a constant eruption. Smoke pours from the top and, if it is ever clear at night, we’ll be able to see lava flowing down the side!

The only other day that we could see Arenal in the morning was the day we had no rain at all - so we’re hoping this is a good sign. There is a lot that needs to be done today in our three work groups, and rain would provide us with another opportunity to improvise! We lost a lot of time yesterday afternoon to an incredible rainstorm. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it rain that hard, with thunder and lightning included. But the Ticos (locals) did not seem to think it was out of the ordinary (except for all of the lightning). So if you read this on Wednesday, please offer up a prayer for no rain.

That being said, our group projects are coming along great and our work teams have done some amazing work. Group 1 has done a tremendous job at the playground rehabilitation. It doesn’t look like the same place already, and they have one more day to put on the finishing touches. All of the vegetation has been cleared, and the equipment is already repaired and most of it painted. There is also some concrete to be poured today to complete steps leading from the street. The community has been there observing (and even helping). It’s been wonderful.

Group 2 has been having a great time at the elementary school. They have about 70% of their paint project done - and since it is all under cover, should be able to complete it today without a problem. The bigger challenge there is when the kids take recess, all work stops - which is a good thing! The children love the interaction with our groups, and there have been some bonds created there that will never be forgotten - on both sides.

Group 3 returns to the special needs school. Activities in the classrooms are engaging for our group and for the students. We start each morning with some time of worship - even though it’s a public facility, we haven’t held back in singing praises to our God. We’ll complete one outside project there - clearing a sidewalk of debris so that students with physical mobility issues can have better access to the school. Then, in the afternoon, group 3 will return to the orphanage and do a paint-blitz of their indoor playroom. Prime, paint and clean up in 4 hours - at least that’s the plan!

Tonight, the entire group will have dinner at the hotel, then head out to a night soccer field where the church has been doing some community evangelism. There should be 30-50 Ticos there (including a number of the church members), our groups and a bunch of children. So it should be a good night to promote the church and help it build community.

Our team has done fabulous work. Some things I’ve noted:

1) an overall spirit of joy and servant’s hearts
2) a “roll with it” mentality with factors out of our control
3) a willingness to leave comfort zones and allow God to be in control and to be shown
4) relationship-building with children and the other people whom we are privileged to serve

I’ve been on a number of mission trips, and my experience is that day 5 of a 7-day trip is usually the hardest day. Members are tired. The end is now closer than the beginning. The “newness” is worn off the mission. But it can also be the best day when the reality of all that you are experiencing (and what God has done in you and for others) comes to the front. So send up a special prayer for us today, that we would surrender to Him, and that His will would be our sole, driving force in all that we do.

Hasta luego!