Stories and Rice

No matter the context life seems to center around meals. That was the case on our project trip as well. The team and I would work from sun up until way past sun down, but we would always take breaks for some delicious Costa Rican food. I think the meals were my favorite part of the project trip. This was our time to interact, one on one, with the members of the church we were serving. Again I was blown away by the generosity of everyone. They would always say that their house was our house and continue to thank us for the design work we were doing for their church. You could tell it meant a lot to them. During these meals we would ask them about how they found out about the ministry and what they liked most about the church and what they would like to see the church become. They've got big dreams. Dreams to become the center of change in their community. Dreams to run afterschool programs for youth and a daycare to give single moms a helping hand. Dreams to one day have a congregation of 250 believers and growing in the Barrio del Los Angeles. Dreams that are completely attainable through the grace of God. We also had some members of the church share with us their testimonies. I remember one house in particular, Don Angel was sharing how God had transformed his life by helping him overcome alcoholism and a dire health condition. You could see the intensity of his love for God and how real God's grace was to him and his family as he shared his story. Across from me sat his wife, welling up with tears as he was telling us about God's work in their lives. It was truly a beautiful story of restoration. I am so thankful for this time to serve La Iglesia del Nazareno. It reminded me of the importance of an outward focused church focused on making an impact for the sake of Christ in their community. I'm looking forward to all that they will become in the coming future.