Resting In Times Of Uncertainty (Stranded On The Side Of The Road)

Hey everyone! I am doing a mini series about rest and recently posted a blog about what that looked like for my team. If you want to go read that it is the one right before this! Quepos was a great trip and much needed. I want to dive more into what we did and show you some of my favorite pictures I’ve taken in awhile!! 

We left for 10 days and started by camping on the beach in Jaco. My team was able to do night ministry and pray over Jaco one night before leaving. It was heavy and difficult to see what we have been sheltered from in the last two months. Jaco is a touristy beach town where all the spring breakers flock to. Prostitution is legal and sex, drugs, rock and roll might as well be the town’s slogan. It’s been difficult seeing how broken the people are. There are good things in Jaco and we know the Lord is moving. Although it was heartbreaking I’m glad we were able to walk the streets and feel the weight of why were here. After we prayed we got ice cream and gave our time on the streets to the Lord before we got back to our campsite. It was a sweet way to end our night if you know what I’m saying. 

After camping on the beach we headed up to Quepos and camped up in the rainforest for a few more nights. Some of my favorite memories are camping so it was sweet to have the Lord bring me back to that time. My team was doing ATL, ask the Lord, it’s amazing to see how subtle ministry can be in everyday life.  The campsite we were at was family owned, as we were setting up camp a few people from my team talked to the owner and property manager. They ended up taking us up to their favorite sunset place with the rest of their family and close friends. 

Even then it felt like home and like we were welcomed into their little commune. It’s funny how the Lord blesses us with those little moments through people who don’t even know that the Lord’s using them. A huge take away for me in our time there was how bright of a light we are anywhere we go. Even though we weren’t painting light posts and it didn’t look like typical ministry we’ve been doing. We were able to show what Christ looks like just by being kind and listening to people staying there. Life if ministry and ministry is life. 

While we were trying to get down to the city we had to wait for a bus that was potentially going to pick us up. My team was traveling during Holy Week so a lot of businesses were shut down. It was questionable if the bus would actually come on Good Friday but we didn’t really think about that until we were on the side of the road. It’s funny how even then the Lord uses those moments to bring out our faith. “Do you trust me that I will provide transportation?” I loved being able to laugh,  dance around, and even just be while waiting and KNOWING that the Lord provides. Resting in the stress of the unknown. Resting and being patient in situations that are questionable. The yellow bus did come, don’t worry we weren’t stranded, because our God provides. 

Later that afternoon we made it to our hostel. The sunsets are insane here so we decided to do ATL and watch what God was painting for that evening. We each prayed and the Lord brought us to a mother and daughter on a bench. We talked to them about church and where we could find one, they showed us a YUMMY place to have dinner. Throughout our trip the Lord brought us so many people to pour into. Although it was a short amount of time spent with random people on the streets at an ice cream shop our intentionality as a team with God’s children is amazing to me. 

My team met Alek who was staying in the same room as us in our hostel. We all instantly became friends and ended up going to the National park with her. These are some of my favorite pictures of Gods creation. Being in nature with my camera is incredibly restful for me. I always feel recharged after editing pictures and seeing how detailed God is. 

Okay so back tracking to the very beginning of all of this. As we were planning our ATL trip we were able to get in contact with a ministry. Everything was working itself out, food provide, a place to stay, and another ministry to help. Perfect right? Well clearly God had other plans because two nights before we were supposed to travel to Quepos and we were left with now what? Just like being stranded we had to have faith God would provide and He did. He provided all of these moments and people to share our faith with. 

Okay so now we’re caught up to Easter. Where we invited Alek to come to an Easter service. As we were walking to the service on the opposite side of the beach we were faced with why we received the call about not being able to go. WELP this is where you’ll have to subscribe and wait for the other half of what happened during our ATL trip.