Hello world!! I haven’t had WiFi to post any blogs since we arrived here. (Due to more COVID restrictions, Nicaragua was off the table for the time being) We are in Costa Rica and their slogan here is Pura Vida meaning pure life. The slogan makes me think of my life as a follower of Christ, after asking Him into my heart & now, oh what a pure life I get to live! He washes away our sins making us blameless and pure before God. Wow!! Isn’t Christ’s love so amazing?! We will be here for 3 months in total and our next destination for the other 3 months is unknown. It’s absolutely gorgeous here & the Lord is already working in so many ways! We are staying in the mountains with a host named Evalyn & her family. They have been so sweet and their hospitality is so genuine. I hope one day to serve guests in my home the way they have do & effortlessly love them as Christ loves us. They speak only Spanish, and with a language barrier it is very difficult to communicate through words. Our communication with the family has been more through actions, but I am so glad smiles and love are universal. Evalyn, started a local Christian school and church in her town several years ago. We have been here for almost 2 weeks, and we are working with many different ministries. The first weeks ministry opportunity, was to paint the outside of classroom buildings at the local school, Evalyn started. This we we are working at an outdoor event center/gathering place that is used to hold revivals and camps for 7 local churches. We are doing several construction, landscaping, and painting projects around the place to help them out so they wouldn’t have to pay for someone else to do it. Acts of service are great ways to show the love of Jesus with other believers in order that they may better reach nonbelievers. On Friday, we will do door to door Evangelism & share the gospel with people in many different walks of life. Next week, we are working with the local church but we aren’t sure yet of what type of ministry we will be doing yet. I ask that you join me in prayer, for continued safety for my squad and that the language barrier wouldn’t keep us from sharing the gospel whether that be through translator or acts of service. I also ask that you pray for open hearts for all of the people we are encountering that they may see Christ through us. Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
Much love,
Erika Talley
So good to hear from you! Your service and host family is so much like when I was in Nicaragua. We painted an orphanage and stayed with a host family that provided all our meals. They spoke and understood Spanish only but somehow we all communicated well. Words are only one form of communication and I found that when there is a language barrier, the communication of smiles and hugs is much sweeter.
Use this time to grow in your relationship with Christ. You will bless others and be blessed by those you meet along the way. Stay safe and keep us updated! Enjoy Costa Rica! Love you! P.S. There is a Medtronic manufacturing site there somewhere but I have not been yet.
Good Morning My Daughter In love. I am so Glad to see and hear from the work you are doing. Quite jealous!! I pray The Lord keeps you safe and does a miraculous work on your trip. Love and prayers everyday
It is so great to hear about the many things that you and your team are doing there!! We will pray for ya’ll and for the hearts of those that you will meet. Keep up the great work!!! We love ya!!!
I’m so glad you are getting to have this experience! I remember my first trip to Costa Rica! It is so beautiful there! And warm! On one of my medical trips, we had clinics in several schools. They were so welcoming! I’m praying for you and your team! I know you’re a blessing to the people there! They are a wonderful people!