I am now living by the beach in Jacó Costa Rica. It is definitely a lot hotter here than it was in the mountains. We are working with a ministry called Oceans Edge. This amazing ministry focuses on discipling the missionaries that come to them, training them, teaching them, and then sending them out to serve this beautiful city. One of the things that we are doing currently is painting the light posts throughout the town. They are having us paint murals on them of all different kinds of plants and animals that are found here in Jacó. It is a really cool project to bring light to the city and the light posts are supposed to look like stained glass to remind you of the church and the light post go from darker colored at the bottom to lighter color of the top. It is a really cool opportunity because we get a chance to talk to everybody that walks by while we are painting. We also have the opportunity to paint murals in the park where lots of the kids come and we can play with the kids while some paint. We’re not focusing on just finishing the job, but instead focusing on loving the people along the way. That is just a part of what we, and this ministry, are doing; they also have a surf ministry where they teach kids how to surf and tell Bible stories to them all while getting to witness to their parents. We also have gotten to do prayer walking through town. In addition, we are serving a lot with the church. God is definitely moving and working with the church, as it is consistently growing.
The beautiful scenery is gorgeous all around and in Jacó but there is a lot of darkness in this city. The casino and a lot of the spas are a front for sex trafficking. Prostitution is considered normal. As a large portion of the tourist industry is contributing to these heartbreaking realities, it is terribly sad and very disturbing. In addition to this darkness covering the city of Jacó, 80% of the children here are sexually assaulted before they turn 18.
So, I am asking for your prayers for the tourists that come here that are running away from something. Pray that they will run into the arms of Jesus. And pray for the locals, the women trapped in prostitution; pray that God will provide a way out a different means to support their families a better way of life. Pray that they feel loved and seen by God and they believe it. Pray for the children that the Lord would protect them and that He will be with them in the good days and in the bad. I also ask that you would pray for the many additional forms of evil and darkness that fill this city. God loves everybody and is not selective to only love who we claim to be innocent. Pray that God would wreck their lives, and he would extend his hand to them and they would take it. That their lives will be radically changed for the Lord.
Pray for the church and that it would continue to grow and that all the different programs that they have to reach the community would prosper and God would bless them abundantly for their obedience and service to him.
Prayer is extremely important. I humbly and boldly ask that you pray the enemy out of this place and pray the Lord in.
Even amidst the darkness and evil that is so evident within Jacó, God is still very present and continuing to move. Seeing light being brought back to this city is a beautiful sight and a powerful image of God’s relentless faithfulness.
As always, I thank you for partnering with me in prayer and thanksgiving. God is good and I am excited to see how he continues to move during my last few weeks in this city!
