Wednesday, October 19, 2011

My Costa Rica Family

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am. Send me!" -Isaiah 6:8

God is incredibly amazing. There are so many stories and God moving experiences I would love to share with the entire world. So many things happened and I was blessed to witness many lives being impacted. I am extremely thankful God sent me.

Looking back on all of the seasons of my life, God has constantly provided me with amazing friends, family, and godly role models. My time in Costa Rica was no different. God created us for friendship. He saw that Adam needed friendship and intimacy not only with Him, but with other human beings. God constantly provides for us. He provided me with a close group of friends that have become my Costa Rica family.

Laine- She is a true gift from God. She has become one of my closest and dearest friends. It is crazy how much we have in common and how God is using both of us in such similar ways. She is extremely on fire for God and I can not wait to see what God does through her and how He uses her in my life. Praise God you are my sister in Christ!

Brant and Gel- They are the most amazing couple ever! Both of them took me in and made me feel so loved and wanted. Brant is an amazing spiritual leader, and has such a hunger for God. Gel is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She is like my little sister! I love you both so much! God has such amazing plans for you both! I can not wait to hear all about your ministry and see the amazing things God will do through you.

Chaz- The best roommate ever! She is my confidante, my friend, my sister in Christ, and the best person to make me laugh. Chaz has such a fun spirit, God has used her to touch many peoples lives and to bless me with a great friendship! Some of my favorite Chaz quotes include, but are not limited to: "I have leprosy!" "There's nothing sadder than a broken down mariachi band." "Feel my mullet!!" "I'd never feel comfortable getting a butt tattoo" "I have so much hair, it's like I have Lego hair- I can just take it off." Chaz you are amazing! I love and miss you so much!

Jota- J.D. is an amazing person, he is willing to do anything and everything. He is completely in love with Jesus Christ and is willing to serve in any way. He put up with me and has become a dear friend! I can not wait to see what all God does in his life and to hear about the people he impacts with his kind heart. God has amazing plans for him and I know J.D will always answer the call! You are amazing Jota! Thank you for all that you do and for all of the love you show God's people.

Heather and Jeremy- The Hicks family is amazing! They are great servants of God and I was blessed enough to see and hear about the ways God has moved in their lives. Jeremy is a great worship leader and was always trying to make everyone feel wanted and to help us get accustomed to being there. Every time he sees a need, he is trying to figure out a way to fix it. Heather is simply great. She took me in and has given me more advice and guidance than I have ever expected from anyone. Their girls are the sweetest little girls ever! I have been so blessed to love on this family. Thank you guys for taking me in and showing me so much love. I will forever cherish our friendship!

Pastor Miguel and Karina- have the biggest hearts. They are both so committed and fully engulfed in Celebration Church and serving their community. They are so loving, and have been such great role models for the young people in the church. Miguel is a great mentor to the youth and I know all of the boys really look up to him and respect him greatly. Thank you both for all of your love and prayers. You have such a sweet family. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Amanda and Brian- The coolest missionaries I will ever meet! Amanda is ridiculously amazing, she is extremely talented and has such a passion for Gods people. Children are drawn to her and she always greets them with opened arms. Brian is extremely gifted in several ways, one of which is being a tattoo artist. He comes off as extremely hardcore, but has such a kind soul. He is extremely caring and it has been a blessing to watch God work through him. Thank you both for everything you do, and allowing people to see you don’t have to be a cookie cutter Christian to be a missionary. You both are amazing and I love you so much!

 Manny, Kevin, Allan, Jefferson, Jerry, and James are all amazing young men. God provided me with a group of passionate, fun, loving, hungry, willing to serve, and caring young men. I love these guys so much! They each have such a kind and warm heart. They all are hungry for more of God and I have been extremely blessed to see Him moving in each and everyone of these boys. My time in Costa Rica would not have been the same without them. God has used them to impact my life more than I could ever impact theirs. I am so blessed and so thankful to have them as my brothers. My prayer for them is for God to continue to provide them with Godly role models, for them to continue to open their hearts up to Him, for them to stay hungry for God and His word, for them to become the spiritual leaders for not only their families but for the entire community. I know God has amazing things planed for each and every one of them. I am so excited to see them continue to grow in Christ.


Thank you Lord for all of your blessings. Thank you for gifting me an amazing group of people to call my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for all of the amazing God moments I have been able to share with them. Thank you Lord, for all of our time spent together and for the memories we share. Thank you for my Costa Rican family who continue to bless my life everyday. I pray God that you continue to bless their ministries that they will continue to glorify you in all that they do. I pray for them to be poured into with your love, just as they pour out your love onto others. I pray we all have many more memories to come. I pray you continue to break our hearts for what breaks yours.

5 comments:

  1. Awesome Whit Whit! Reminded me of this quote by Louie Giglio:
    "Humility and gratitude are inseparable mates, born side by side at the foot of the Cross."
    We are so thankful for all you do and continue to do in our lives, always a blessing being with you sister! Love you!!

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  2. Amiga, te amamos tanto, nos haces mucha falta, eres una inspiración para muchos en Costa Rica, y sabemos que siempre nos recordarás cuando veas el tatuaje en tu que dice ¨Pura Vida¨lo interesante es que esos mismos pies fueron los que llevaron bendiciones a muchas familias en Alajuelita.
    Te amamos y siempre estarás en nuestras oraciones.
    Te esperamos...

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  3. AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!! Girl this is just incredible. I love every word here and I am sooooooooo thankful that God brought us together. It's so crazy to think that we lived states away, were connected by a mutual friend on FB, then actually met in another country. God is so awesome and I love to see how He brings people together, people like you and I that will be friends for a LIFETIME!!! I love you so much girl and can't wait see what God has planned for both of us!!!! TE QUIERO MUCHO MUCHO!!!!

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  4. Thanks for your kind words, Whitlee. We are so blessed to have met you and we are SO looking forward to the day you come back!! Know that we're praying for you and if you need anything, let us know. Love you!!

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  5. Ok Barnabus, thanks for encouraging everyone! We are good to go for a few more months now (lol).
    Love that qoute Brant and Gel shared by Louie Giglio. You possess both of those qualities. I am priveledged to have met and served with you. God obviously has plans for you becasue He said so, but I can't wait to see what those plans are. Until then...take Him at His word.
    Thanks so much for helping out with the girls. Olivia cried a couple of times over you leaving, so now we are even for the baby sitting (lol). Love you. Hope to see you soon. When are you planning a trip to Jax???

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