In both the American and Texas Revolutions, men outnumbered and facing impossible odds sent messages to their foes that they would not surrender. The Come and Take It flag is one of the flags that flew over Texas and is part of the story of Texas. The men in both instances told their foes that they would not be intimidated and would stand their ground.
As Christians we are facing an enemy as well and one that is cunning and has battled us in more ways than we can count. Yet we have one thing going for us that the Texans in Gonzalez did not. We know as Christians how the story ends. We know as Christians that victory is ours. We know together, us and all of you, we must keep the faith, pray and stand in a gap for kids here in Costa Rica. That ‘gap’ has been bigger and more difficult than we ever imagined.
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We honestly were not prepared for the full measure of work that laid ahead of us. Maybe we thought we would come down and walk alongside kids as they discovered a deeper faith. Sure, learning Spanish would be tough and the crazy driving conditions here might be a challenge, but anything is possible with God. We have battled so much more.
Young Life in Costa Rica has been described in many ways to us before and after we arrived. And when we got here we found that while great things were happening, there were also some things that needed to change.
Jeannie has been focusing much of her time away from our side of town and working to help sustain a healthy ministry on the west side of San Jose. Working to connect people, meeting to hear the perspectives and stories of the history of Young Life international. She is bringing a voice to those that came before us and share a similar experience with us.
This has been the challenge of our lives. We are fighting every day to love and forgive. Fighting to dream and hope for a future that we can’t see, that we can’t make happen without the movement of the Lord. There is so much potential locked away in these communities and it is going to take patience, prayer and faith to unlock it.
Packing up is always an option, and we believe that the enemy pursues us and wants exactly that for us. We have battled through some of our darkest days.
However, we believe that we must stand this ground. Stand the ground for the kids of the international schools that deserve, like everyone else, to hear that there is so much more in a relationship with Jesus than what the world offers. Stand the ground for kids of the barrios to attend a camp and hear about having a personal relationship with Jesus.
We have so much work to do but little by little we are seeing fruit. We are finally getting to focus on the East side of San Jose. We are hosting weekly groups to talk about apologetics, equipping and praying with high schoolers and University students. We are hosting monthly worship nights and cookouts and things to get to know kids and families. Photography is opening doors, and service projects may unlock even more opportunities in other communities.
Jeannie meets weekly with different people to disciple, to learn more about culture, society, school dynamics and so many other things. We are learning the inner workings of a new culture. Every conversation is a potential win or a potential land mine. Patience is the only way through and we must wait on the Lord to move. There is no other option and this is supremely challenging for us.
Please pray and believe with us.
Believe ….local leaders can be raised up to lead kids in international communities.
Believe …. local Costa Rican parents will join together and help us.
Believe …. rich and poor can work together.
Believe …. churches will see the benefit of working with Young Life.
Believe …. Costa Rica will one day raise 100% of the ministry funds from here in Costa Rica.
Believe …. camp will be built and kids will hear the good news.
Believe …. the travel company can be led by a Costa Rican and sustain Young Life.
We believe in the impossible. These things are so impossible that only God can accomplish them.
Will you join us in this dream?
Will you pray?
Will you give?
Will you come?
Please join us. Send this to friends and family. Thank you
Jimmy and Jeannie