Strangers n' Starbucks

           What a week it has been!! :) 
                       So many stories I could share.I don’t even know where to begin.

      Last Sunday, I went to a local Starbucks with two of my teammates (Mario and Celeste) to work on our book report together for class. As the three of us talked about the sermon we had just heard, a tall dark haired lady walked up to us. “Excuse me, my name is Anne. I couldn’t help but overhear you three talking about church.” she said. “ I am from Seattle and a believer in Jesus. I have been in San Jose for 3 weeks now. I don‘t speak much Spanish so I haven’t been able to make many friends. Do you mind if I sit with you all?” We invited her to join us. As Anne spoke with us, we found out that she had been visiting local hospital in Costa Rica. She was doing medical reach and had plans on being in the country for eight more weeks. She also told us that her dream of becoming a nurse and helping people who suffer from Aids. Anne expressed her passion to not only help patients with their medical needs-but spiritual needs as well (If Vanessa Miguel was ten years older-this lady was her twin). And get this!! Anne personally knows one of my professors from Moody in Spokane, Washington. Wow, talk about a small world!:)

As we talked with Anne in Starbucks, Mario told her that the three of us are doing a DTS with YWAM. He also mentioned that we were planning on going to his church that evening. “I would be so happy if I could come worship with you all, may I?” Anne asked us (without any fear in her voice). Mario, Celeste, and I looked at each other and smiled. “Of course, you are more than welcome to come with us and we will give you a ride home afterwards.” we replied.
As the night came to a end at Marios church, Anne had the opportunity to meet many other believers at church. She shared how grateful she was that we took her with us. Yet, Anne wasn‘t the only person who received a blessing that night. Spending time with her really encouraged my teammates and I. A few hours prior, we were all strangers in Starbucks; but as we dropped Anne off at her host family’s house (and hugged her goodbye), my teammates and I felted like we had met one of our sisters for the very first time. We didn’t want to part ways. So, we invited Anne to come back to church with us the following week. And she agreed without any hesitation. The week was just beginning, what more would God have in store in the days to come…

Every week we have a new teacher that challenges us in our faith. This week we had Pancho as our teacher. He is from El Salvador and has lived on the base for over two years. On Tuesday, Pancho told the group that we would not be able to use any of our electronic devices for the entire week. And let me tell you, not having any electronic devices ended up being a very freeing experience. Nearly every night this past week the girls and I spend time sitting on each other’s beds, telling jokes, and laughing until it hurt! Normally, most of us are texting on our cell phones, reading, bogging, or skyping with someone from home. However, not having any electronics really brought us closer together. :)

On Friday, the staff decided to do something special for the group. They planned a trip to the BEACH! This was a big deal to the group since we have not left San Jose for almost a full month (and the beach was a two hour drive away). On our way to the beach, we stopped at a bridge where over forty wild crocodiles dwell. For the first time in my life, I felt as if I was living in a still picture, straight out of a National Geographic magazine. There was professional photographer to the far left of the bridge, catching every move of two specific crocodiles. As I was watching from the distance, a Tico told me about an incident that happened in the river not that long ago.

According to this man, the news reported that a local man had been drinking one evening. He decided to take a swim in the river due to the humidity of the night. And since he was drunk, cooling off appeared to sound like a pleasant idea. The next morning the man was no where to be found.  Some after, people began to look for him. Reporters discovered that he had taken a swim under the bridge the night before into the crocodile infested waters. Sadly, these reporters could not find him nor his remains to prove he was dead. Unfortunately, the man’s head was found laying on a sandbank up stream-several hours later.


Once I heard this story, standing on this bridge while seeing full grown crocodiles under me- no longer felt so comforting. My team took a few photos and decided it was time to got back on the road. However, I began to think about this man’s life. I wonder why he was drinking that night? Was he a brokenhearted man? Was he a prisoner to darkness? I wish he could have had a life walking in the goodness of God’s Light. For I know, it is only in His Light that we can find true freedom.

The following verses really spoke strongly to me this week. They reminded me just why God has brought me to Costa Rica. When I look at the people of this country, my heart breaks…so many of them look like prisoners, searching for the Light; yet living in darkness.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from the darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of Joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness. A planting of the Lord for the display of His slender.”Isaiah 61: 1-5

Once we arrived at the beach, my group ran straight for the water! After some time of playing around in the waves-like a bunch of kids-we sat down and read God’s word together as a family. Pancho then announced that our group was going to celebrate life in Christ and new beginnings!

“Today is a very special day, I want to invite anyone to share their testimony and be baptized in the ocean in front of us.” he said. Four of my teammates decided to recommit their lives to Jesus (Jen, Shelby, Caleb, and Madelyn). It was an emotional experience for all of us to seem and one I will never forget.

So, that was my week…until next time :)

With love, Tiff