Day 4: Rebar and Foundational Work

March 3rd Monday

6:30 Breakfast
7:30 Devotional (Linda – Your Best Day)
8:00 Work Site Casa de Oracion
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Work site
5:00 dinner and dishes
6:00 Pack for Sixaola
8:00 Snacks
9:00 Lights Out

This day started like all the others, with a calm but brief breakfast, looking forward to the devotional. “Devotional” seems like a cold religious word for something so refreshing, a simple time for someone to share what God is sharing with them, to “relay” the thoughts God stirred or poured into their heart, by passing the baton to friends.

After the debacle with the dogs the day before (or maybe because it was a little cooler), we decided to meet in the studio where Bill and Linda were staying in the original house at Villa Esperanza. With the sunlight shining into to the room, rich with tropical wood, we settled in with people we could now call close friends.

Linda, sat in the big chair, and faced her fear in sharing with a larger group. Public speaking wasn’t something she did as easily as Bill, her husband the consultant. Somehow that reserve made what she had to say simple and precious. Her thoughts were centered on how every day can be your best day. By the power of God’s Spirit, the ordinary things can become extraordinary. If we choose to bloom, respond to His touch, we can touch those around us in ways others can’t touch. Coming from Linda, this message was especially moving. Her life carries a personal story of overcoming great hardship…and producing an especially sweet and peaceful fragrance. Someone reminded us that morning while we were talking “Somewhere, somebody is praying….for you”. How ordinary and extraordinary is that?

On that note, I asked Scott how we could view the day ahead, we were scheduled to build a metal lattice for a foundation for the Casa de Oracion Church…important but impersonal compared to the rest of the weeks schedule. His words turned out to be foretelling: "Sometimes God speaks deep truths to us in simple things”. I thought back to Lisa’s words two days before “Expect God to show up”. Later that day as I watch each person take a unique role in the project I appreciated the way that each of the team brought something different to the project. Bill made sure the lattice was straight, DJ and Scott worked with the local carpenter and Rolando to bend the rebar, and I worked with Anita and Lisa to tie the rebar together. I realized that tying the rebar mesh together made it one piece, stronger and more useful, and beautiful.

We had a wonderful lunch prepared right there by some ladies of the Church, and a peaceful time afterward. Linda started work with Amanda and Katy that morning helping children, but came in after lunch to show what precious (and surprisingly strong!) helpmate she was to Bill. She helped us finish the job.

Later that day I saw the eyes of Jesus in our Costa Rican friends (the carpenter, our guide Rolando, Pastor Hernando), and we parted ways. Since my Spanish is not so good, all I could say was “Bendiciones” or blessings. It was all I needed to say.

That night we scrambled to repack our bags for the trip to the east side of Costa Rica, Limon. I went to bed thinking this day was our best day :).

Lessons of the Square Watermelon

"Occasionally I see something so profound that the best thing I can do is simply pass it on to as many people as possible. " (A leader at my company) I liked it too.

Lessons of the Square Watermelon

Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than their US counterparts and therefore don't have room to waste. Watermelons, big and round, wasted a lot of space. Most people would simply tell the grocery stores that watermelons grow round and there is nothing that can be done about it. That is how I would assume the vast majority of people would respond. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. If the supermarkets wanted a square watermelon, they asked themselves, "How can we provide one?" It wasn't long before they developed the square watermelon.


The solution to the problem of round watermelons wasn't nearly as difficult to solve for those who didn't assume the problem was impossible to begin with and simply asked how it could be done. It turns out that all you need to do is place the watermelon into a square box when they are growing and the watermelon will take on the shape of the box.

This made the grocery stores happy and had the added benefit that it was much easier and cost effective to ship the watermelons. Consumers also loved them because they took less space in their refrigerators, which are much smaller than those in the US, meaning that the growers could charge a premium price for them.

What does this have to do with anything besides square watermelons? There are a few lessons that you can take away from this story which can help you in all parts of your life. Here are a few of them:

Don't assume: The major problem was that most people had always seen round watermelons so they automatically assumed that square watermelons were impossible before even thinking about the question. Things that you have been doing a certain way your entire life have taken on the aura of the round watermelon and you likely don't even take the time to consider if there is another way to do it. Breaking yourself from assuming this way can greatly improve your overall life as you are constantly looking for new and better ways to do things. This was one of the most difficult things for me to do because most of the assumptions I make, I don't even realize that I'm making them. They seem perfectly logical on the surface, so I have to constantly make an effort to question them.

Question habits: The best way to tackle these assumptions is to question your habits. If you can make an effort to question the way you do things on a consistent basis, you will find that you can continually improve the way that you live your life. Forming habits when they have been well thought out is usually a positive thing, but most of us have adopted our habits from various people and places without even thinking about them. I have changed a large number of habits that I have had after taking the time to question them and I continue to do so. Some of them I have no idea where they came from, while others I can trace to certain people or instances in my life. It's a never ending process, but by questioning habits, you can consistently strive toward making all aspects of your life more enjoyable instead of defaulting to what you have now.

Be creative: When faced with a problem, be creative in looking for a solution. This often requires thinking outside the box. Most people who viewed this question likely thought they were being asked how they could genetically alter watermelons to grow square, which would be a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. Being creative and looking at things in different ways in all portions of your live will help you find solutions for many problems where others can't see them. I am not a creative person, but I've found that the more that I look at things from different perspectives, the more creative I have become. It's a learned art and it builds upon itself.

Look for a better way: The square watermelon question was simply seeking a better and more convenient way to do something. The stores had flagged a problem they were having and asked if a solution was possible. It's impossible to find a better way if you are never asking the question in the first place. I try to ask if there is a better way of doing the things that I do and I constantly write down the things I wish I could do (but currently can't) since these are usually hints about steps I need to change. Get into the habit of asking yourself, "Is there a better way I could be doing this?" and you will find there often is.

Day 3: The Local Church and The Old Mission

Day 3: March 2, Sunday

7:00 Breakfast and dishes
8:00 Devotional (Brad – Your Journey)
9:15 Leave for services at Casa de Oracion
12:45 Lunch at Villa Esperanza
2:30 Visit the Stephens, missionaries for many years
5:00 Diner and Dishes
6:00 Prepare for work day/pray
8:00 Snacks
9:00 Lights out

Sunday morning was my turn for the devotional. We decided this time just to sit on the patio between the houses. This provided some comic relief, as one of the dogs was gaging and coughing from time to time. Oh well, all part of the Journey…

• Are we creators...or created? Are we masters of our destiny, or products of our journey,
  Does God place the flowers around us, by accident? From a commercial:
  
  What is a journey? A journey is not a trip. It’s not a vacation. It’s a process. A Discovery It’s a process of self discovery A journey brings us face to face with ourselves A journey shows us not only the world, But how we fit in Does the person create the journey Or does the journey create the person? The journey is life itself. Where will Life take you?
  
• My favorite story is the one repeated in the lives of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, and Christ (Heb 2:8). In bringing many sons to glory, it is fitting that God, for who and through whom everything exist should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering (Heb 5:18) He learned obedience from what he suffered.
  
• IN the story Hinds feet, Much Afraid is transformed into Grace and Glory. Pain and suffering are the guides. The enemies Anger, pride fear and self pity. Our destiny, your destiny is to 1) Love God…and 2) love others.
  
  1) Run cry out to the Shephard. The name of Jesus Yeshua gives us a new identity. The Lord saves, the Lord is a saving cry a Lament.
  
  2) Love others : Paul The thorn says 2Cor 12:9. My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness. We have this reassure in jars of clay to show this all surpassing power of is from God not from us. Examples of the lives affecting/affected
  Bill O. --> DJ
  --> Jack Harris’ Father
  Nellie Mitch -->Dan
  Friend of Anita gave a Bible --> Anita
  Laura G. -->
  
• Where is life taking you?

That morning we went to worship at Casa de Oracion. A powerful expression of love and freedom from the local people in their hugs and their songs. One of the songs seemed to say…Everything that I say, everything that I do Its all about you Lord, all about you.

IN the afternoon we visited with Ruth and Steve Stephens, missionaries for over 50 years, to learn whatever they had to share. Their focus was on the fatherhood of God. How important it was to Know the Lord, Trust and Obey. As we get older, our choices grow more narrow over time, but God watches over us as His Children. Ruth said her favorite passage in the bible was Romans 8: “It begins with no condemnation, and ends with the Spirit interceding for us.”

That night the band came by, and we all sang to God together.

Gracias a Dios (“Thanks to God”)

Day 2: La Carpio Children

March 1, Saturday
7:00 Breakfast and Dishes
8:00 Devotional at the River
Purchase building materials
11:00 Lunch
12:30 LaCarpio Feeding Program (feed, love and minister to the children).
4:00 Return to Mission, clean up pots, pans et
5:00 Dinner and dishes
9:00 Lights out

The day started with confidence that I would discover what I was looking for: …where I fit with God. Later that morning, reading Waking the Dead (John Eldredge), the author suggested I stop and write down what I love to do… here it is:

Helping others
Connecting Dots… Solving problems
Creating beauty
Playing with my son
Finding what other’s revel in, their sweet spot
Finding God with Others

After breakfast we took a walk though the mountains, past the coffee bean pickers, the “cattle on a thousand hills” and ending at a large creek with bubbling water and beautiful trees. We were there for Lisa’s devotional, which made me think of the song “You make all things new”. Next to the water, she read from Isaiah 43:18-19, John 4:13-14 and John 7:37, and carried down into God’s heart for our relationship. “Expect something totally new or you won’t see me sneaking in or springing up. Expect Him to happen. Never put God in a box, but allow him to show his presence in all His glory…Overflowing from us. Our souls deep thirst…We can come to Him, he will fill our heart….Springs of water welling up to eternal life. Praying more, asking more, to Love Him more, know him more.” This is what our Dad longs for, a full relationship.

Later, the men left to move some heavy re-bar from a truck, while the ladies got ready for our trip to La Carpio, a Nicaraguan refugee camp. We returned to Villa Esperanza for lunch, where Anita described to me the moments with other ladies where she felt most at home and at peace with God. Then she asked me one of those double edged sword questions that I didn’t expect: “Do you see God as your Father?” Looking back, she may have been asking for insight, but it penetrated me and I had to say truthfully “Not as often as I should. I don’t have that moment to moment relationship that I want to have.” It was a breakthrough moment when I felt God reaching out to me.

On the ride to La Carpio , we learned that over 30,000 Nicaraguans live in this camp next to a rock quarry, afraid of the conditions in their homeland. We arrived to see children already lining up for the food we brought, but the time actually started with games and crafts. We found ourselves making crafts, blowing bubbles and playing games. As I looked at the children the thought came to me that God loves them so much. He longs for them, the best for them, not because of what they do but because of who they are...his creation. I thought about the Dan’s comments the night before to “Love them, hold them, play with them.” . His desire was to break the “generational curse” thievery, prostitution, drug abuse. Some were rougher than others around the edges than others, but they all needed that love from the Father.

Bendiciones (“Blessings”)

Day 1: Launch and Arrival

2/29 (Friday)

5:30 Meet at Scott’s house
6:00 Arrive at Airport in Indy
2:37 Arrival in San Jose
4:30 Welcome to Mission of Hope (Villa Esperanza)
Unpack and get settled in
5:00 Dinner and Dishes
7:00 Orientation meeting
8:00 Schedules and plans
Snacks and Showers
9:00 Lights Out

The thrill of the trip fails to shine through a schedule, but that shouldn’t surprise you, because God loves surprises.

Riding from Scott’s house to the airport with his wife, we talked about their son Noah, his quiet character, their desire and the kind of hopes that parents have for their children. The love this family has for each other filled the car. Courtney missed Scott already, but knew he had to go. In just a few days he would have many stories to share with his family and others for many years.

After dragging hundreds of pounds of school supplies and electrical wire through the airport, we landed in the food court as we waited for the plane. Though we had met several times as a team, we hadn’t built close relationships. That was about to change.

In the first of many such moments, Katy offered to share a word of insight for each of us. That word transported us immediately from a group of individuals into a team, as we realized the unique gift and contribution that each member would bring, and the opportunity to share in the work of God ---if we would believe and expect God to show up.

Anita pointed back to John 17:20-23, how we would be brought together as we experience and shared the Father’s immense love.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Scott called the opportunity ahead Acts of Discovery: Gifts we never knew before, from the power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us. Lisa quipped: “Expect it, believe it.” Part of that belief for me was seeing God in real people, and looking back I’ve learned to appreciate God’s expression much more diversely than ever before, in people I might have not appreciated 10 years ago. Seeing the Father’s love can only happen completely when we are looking, expecting and surrendering our expectations of what that should look like. Bill G. said he hoped that “Everyone would be touched by the heart and soul and essence of God. It’s overwhelming, and when you surrender all…it will ruin you when it happens.”

Later that day, Bill lost an Apple IPhone and DJ’s bag with gifts for the children was lost. We began to loose our sense of control, and began to regain the sense of wonder where one can find God.

After a warm reception by the customs officials who loved our Team shirts, we sailed up the mountain until our ears poped at about 4,000 feet. Dan’s wife Cindy and daughter Holley brought the first of many fabulous and healthy meals at Villa Esperanza (Hope). We talked about the days ahead of us, and by the time lights out came, we were all ready for bed. DJ and I had the first of many precious discussions, as we got to know each other as only brothers can.

It was only day one.

None of us will be the same again.

This past week I returned with a mission team from Costa Rica, and the first thing that people ask me is “How was it?”. No answer can really explain, but I did want to jot a few notes to pry open the really short version of my answer: “Thrilling, Heartbreaking, challenging”.

A short version worth writing would be long. So, over the next week or so I revisit each of the days of our visit. Each day had it own powerful place in the thread, but together they harmonized on the idea that what I needed most was an appreciation of the heart of God as a Father (Papa Dios!), who loves his children and longs for them to live the life they were created for, even more than we long for Him.

Day 1: Launch and Arrival
Day 2: La Carpio Children
Day 3: The Local Church and The Old Mission
Day 4: Rebar and Foundational Work
Day 5: The Prison of Limon
Day 6: Pastor Wilbur’s houses in Sixaola
Day 7: Beach Reflection and Trip Back to Heredia
Day 8: Eden (La Paz Garden)
Day 9: Return to “The Land of Free Refills”

One friend’s warning was to protect against “dashed expectations”, and let God have control. That turned out to be good advice, because even though we had been consecrated, none of us was ready for what God was about to do for us as nine individuals, for the two Churches and the team, or for our new friends in Costa Rica. Gracias a Dios! (thanks to God!) None of us will be the same again.

Thanks to so many of you who prayed for our protection, divine appointments and favor with God. Your prayers were answered.

My good friend Scott Himes organized and led the trip (with Anita Owen), and put together a special video here for those who can't wait.