Costa Rica Day 3
The Voices of Heaven (Voces del Cielo) greeted us with the wonderfully loud sound of a Mariachi band as we entered the new Moviendo Esperanzas home. The band, along with National Leadership Team members and Moviendo staff surprised our birthday girl, Jo, with the band, beautiful decorations, and delicious cake. The best part was the obvious manifestation of God’s love for Jo through the Church. She had no idea she would walk in to hear the Voices of Heaven singing her Happy Birthday en espanol (plus several other great songs), nor did she think we would spend more time celebrating her birthday. Everyone in building, even those who had never met Jo before, showered her with love because of the love of Christ in them.
The rest of the afternoon was deeply encouraging eye-opening. Adelita, the Moviendo Esperanzas (president?) presented to us the incredible work God is accomplishing through the ministry in Costa Rica. God is using a small group of six community leaders to bring the hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus to many Costa Ricans. It’s amazing to see how much grace He pours out over His children who abide and rest in Him, relying on Him to accomplish His task of advancing the gospel. Whether it be through supporting community developing, providing medical aid or OCC boxes, God is using Moviendo Esperanzas to move Costa Ricans closer to Christ, and He deserves all the glory for it. What’s even better is He will continue these works and will build His Church!
Today we got to see one of the most important aspects of short-term missions: the fact that the local church remains here, ready, willing, and working to care for the people we get to reach with the gospel together. The Samaritan’s Purse National Leadership Team and Moviendo Esperanzas are two great examples of how God will ensure His people are discipled, and that His sheep are not left alone to care for themselves. God will certainly care for the people here through these ministries—and as we support and encourage them with the love of Christ, Christ will be exalted.
-Belinda Asare
