There is Meaning in Presence
This past summer, we had a team of high school and college-age students come and work with us for a week. It’s incredible to see God use youth in missions, and with this team, it was powerful to see their lives changed. God is always doing more than we can see throughout the weeks that we have teams. So, we are thankful when we receive testimonies like this one…
“I had never gone outside of the country for a mission trip before until I joined my
church for a mission trip to Costa Rica. In school classes we learn about the differences between cultures and different people groups, leaving me expecting to be hyper-aware of how people in the United States differ from other cultures. However, arriving in Costa Rica, I quickly forgot I was no longer in the States and saw how people from different walks of life share striking similarities. Language barriers presented difficulties but the Holy Spirit worked through them to minister to other people. He also taught me more about His character.
Our first full day in Costa Rica, my group visited Triangulo and Casa Pan, two great opportunities to meet Visiting Triangulo opened my eyes to how people all over the world, in all socio-economic levels share the same need for God. I have been learning how I constantly need God, but to see people who live in another country about to lose their home gave me a greater perspective of how God is all-powerful and cares for all of His creation. Standing in Triangulo next to a large tree in the middle of the walk-way was the first moment I remembered I was no longer in the United States. At this moment, I was not uncomfortable with being separated from my home but thrilled. Triangulo, though drastically different from what I know in the States is still home to many people. I remember looking up at the sky, recognizing how similar it looks in my home-town and making a realization of how similar people all over the world are. Visiting Costa Rica gave me more understanding of all people’s similarities and decreased fear of leaving the United States for longer periods of time.
I was blown away to learn more about Doña Melba’s family and their story. I left encouraged by how God had provided for each child and displayed Himself in so many ways. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her kids. I have been trying to learn Spanish for years (learning languages in classroom settings is not efficient) and I had the ability to interact on some level with the younger kids. I enjoyed putting into practice a skill I have been too afraid to use. I remember at the beginning of the trip, saying “yes” to God meant saying “yes” to step out of my comfort zone in relying on a translator and attempting Spanish.
Though it was hard to communicate, I recognized how people appreciated my effort and how I could communicate in other ways. As I desperately tried to speak Spanish and understand different words, the kids were gracious in repeating their sentences and working with me. We could connect over their interests and not just their words.
The same issue of language barriers came up while putting on a VBS in a different neighborhood. I remember a small kid who was too afraid to join the group inside. God placed it on my heart to approach him, but again, I was too afraid of not being able to communicate. One of the other members of my group prompted me to approach him, so I did. I attempted to play soccer with the child and could pick up on a few of the words he said. After a few minutes, he finally made his way inside with his mom and friend. I again learned how communication is more than words but tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions. I attribute any effective communication to the Holy Spirit intervening for me, I could not do it on my own at all. Talking to this little boy allowed me the opportunity to talk to his mom and with the help of a translator, pray over her.
Sometimes the experiences in front of us are less about the specific moment but what it can lead to as well. It has also been incredible being able to bring Doña Melba’s story of God’s provision back to the States. A friend of mine does not have a relationship with God, but was intrigued after hearing how God provided for Doña Melba and her family.
How God is moving is not just staying in Costa Rica, but impacting lives in the United States. Though interacting with people in Triangulo and at Casa Pan was incredible, inspiring, and a true honor, I 
personally grew most insight while learning about The Refuge Pregnancy Center and visiting a current member’s home. This woman had left Triangulo and moved into government housing, a far distance from her home and community. Kylie (a friend of mine in my church group), Melissa, and Briana made the trip to visit her. Along the way, Melissa had the opportunity to tell Kylie and me more about the work The Refuge does to help these women. As we traveled all over Costa Rica, Kylie and I both agreed that we could see ourselves living and doing mission work outside of the United States. Getting to talk to Melissa, hear her story, and watch her serve was inspiring. I learned about the importance of being present with someone and how loving people is not about what we think people need from us but what people individually need. The woman we visited needed our presence, not our skills. She needed community, not actions. We brought her a few necessities but for the most part, we simply sat with her. She invited us in and gave Kylie and me insight into her life. She allowed us into her life, not expecting anything back. She was willing to let us into her pain without even knowing us, what an honor.
On our way out, Melissa said something to Kylie and me that stuck, we may not fully understand how much it meant for us to show up to this woman’s house but it really did mean a lot to her. There is meaning in presence. Learning to minister to different cultures means being more aware of how people perceive actions differently. Culture is less about what people eat differently or the language barriers but how people’s perception. The woman we visited perceived our presence as having significant weight, acknowledging her physical distance from The Refuge, and understanding the effort put into reaching out to her.
Attending the church service at New Life Church was also impactful. The Sunday we visited was either the day my German Exchange friend was leaving the United States or the day she returned to Germany. 
During her travels, I met a German who had been in Costa Rica for the year, the year Kathi had been in the United States and accepted Christ. He lives 45 minutes (not a significant amount of travel) away from her. I had been concerned with Kathi having community when she returned to Germany, and even if they never meet, it was a moment God showed me how He can and will provide for her. Seeing God be faithful to her while she was leaving the United States- my home, to go back to hers- Germany, and me being in Costa Rica really showed me how God is the Provider, not myself. Though not a ministry moment, while I was walking in obedience, God gave me reassurance in other areas of my life, a true gift.
Reflecting on Costa Rica led to a deeper understanding of the universal necessity to depend on Christ. I have been taught about my need to depend fully on Christ, have heard miraculous stories from all over the world on how God continues to provide, but visiting Costa Rica gave faces to the idea that God really is present everywhere, at all times. God also used this time to show me that I personally can serve God in other parts of the world, making international living more of an option. I am thankful for how Melissa and Briana openly talked with Kylie and myself, sharing her heart for the people of Costa Rica, and offered insight on how an international missionary lives.”
