So Much More

In 2009, a team from RockPointe Church went on a Vision trip to Costa Rica.  We viewed several opportunities for mission work and visited with many people in San Jose and Fraijanes area.  The photo here was taken in an area called Desperamos.  A lot of the people who lived here were Nicaraguan refugees.  The day we visited it was raining, muddy, and very "grey".  But the minute the children stepped out, from their homes and around the corners, the sun came out.  Not the sun we know that comes out after a rain or bakes us in a Texan summer, but a warmth, a hope, a love that radiates from the people who live there.  They welcome us into their home with open arms and show us with pride what we would consider sub-standard, more of a "campsite".  One home we visited stood on a hill over looking some of the most incredible beauty I have ever seen; the walls were built with old wood, tin and rugs; a shower stall next to it, rigged up with debris to wash away the dirt that were the floors of most homes in that community.

After visiting many "sites" that included a men's home, soup kitchen, orphanage, and Desperamos we got to the last one on our list, a Church called Shalom Community Christian Church; a church that was known for its service in the community with a heart for loving and serving those who had been hurt and devastated by both physical and mental hurts.  It didn't seem like we would make it there, it was late, dark, raining and the team separated in two cars got separated.  One got sidetracked and one got lost.  But we made it there and what resulted was a partnership brought together by the heart of God. 











Since then, we have sent many teams there to work with this church in construction of new space for the church, cleaning and painting of community property and buildings, building of homes, and much, much more.













Oh, but it is so much more than just work.  Despite language barriers and cultural differences, eternal relationships have been established; the fellowship and service between peoples from completely different worlds have brought an understanding and joy in knowing that this is just a taste of what is yet to come.  In the end, there will be no "ghettos", no hunger, no disease, and no pain or suffering.  What will be are only joy, love, and the friendship and fellowship that started in a small, beautiful country with God's people loving and serving each other.