Wow what an experience Costa Rica has been! In just 3 days a HOME has been built for not one but two families! It will be hard to put into words my thoughts and my feelings, but I will try to provide for everyone a play by play of each day!
Day one: From a slab of concrete to four wall frames being built and stood up. The start of a roof with half of the trusses put up and three open window holes just waiting for someone to look out of them. I got to spend time holding sweet baby Matias in the early morning when the walls began to be built. For this mama heart – I needed that time holding him. There is something about holding a precious baby, seeing your brothers and sisters in Christ work for God’s glory, and being in the presence of the Lord! I enjoyed singing in broken Spanish (of course) to Baby Matias before getting to work
. I have never built walls before, but with much help from others – I can say I have now done that! After a yummy and needed lunch, the team got back to business and moved forward with the behind the scenes of painting the trusses, the trimming, and the exterior walls of the home. Today’s weather was great, spirits were high, and hammers were working hard!
Day two: From four walls frames to a fully enclosed home! Slap on some interior paint and add in the glass windows! From half the trusses being put up yesterday to a full roof with partial shingles today. Man… a lot of hard work went into today! I played several roles today – painter, cleaner, runner, etc. I enjoyed getting to play a part in several jobs over the course of the day which allowed me the opportunity to work with many of my co-workers. It amazes me the way God connects His people to work together for His purpose. During lunch, I spent some time playing soccer with the kiddos which was a lot of fun and brought me back to reality that these kiddos live in. Dirt roads, bare feet, the JOY of having a new soccer ball – this is very humbling. Again, the weather was great for, our teams were trekking along, and I walked away today amazed at how much work was completed within just these past two days!
Day three: From painted walls to trimmed and finished exterior and interior walls, from a few shingles to a fully shingled roof! From a concrete slab to now a beautiful home! Today was all about finishing up, wrapping up final touches to jobs, helping anyone and everyone that needed a runner, cleaner, or just support (sometimes literally holding them up). I enjoyed seeing the final product of three hard days of work, seeing the smiles on co-workers fac
es, and seeing the beauty of the relationships that had been built internally and with the families in the neighborhood. Today I got to hold sweet Isaac, another precious little boy that God just knew I needed for my mama heart. I prayed over his sweet soul, his future, and his family.
I would have to say again, words are hard. This is definitely a trip that you have to experience for yourself to fully understand the magnitude of the work that is done, but also to understand the amazing opportunity it is to serve a family for His glory. I am thankful for the chance to serve the Lord, to love on these families, and to go physically.
I am thankful for this time of Sabbatical. This time to serve, this time to grow in my relationship with the Lord, and selfishly the time next week to rest for my mental health. It has been a hard year – despite the pandemic, despite the changes in the world. The personal break from work – 
the mental break from some challenges in my personal life. This coming week I look forward to spending some much needing time with my son and my entire family as we get together for a time of fellowship and refueling. God is good yall.