In our time in Jaco, we spent time serving the homeless, listening to their stories, and loving them as Jesus loves. We heard stories of God’s faithfulness to men and women. We met one man, we’ll call him Nathan for privacy, who told us about his experience living on the streets. He was a hitman for a drug ring and struggled with drugs and alcohol. He told us how one day these men had beat him and were going to toss him in the Crocodile River, which is a river that the cartel uses to dump bodies. As they were about to throw him in, he said he cried out to God, “Lord have pity on me, if You save me I will serve You the rest of my life.” They tossed him over the bridge into the water, and he said he felt crocodiles all around him but not one bit him. He got to shore, and at once he remembered his promise to the Lord. He walked through the jungle for three days, and was able to get a taxi to Jaco, where he saw the men that threw him over the bridge. He ordered the man who was driving to stop so that he could get out and see them. The men looked white as ghosts out of disbelief that he was still alive. Nathan was able to forgive the men that tried to kill him, just as the Lord has forgiven and redeemed him. What a gift!. The Lord blots out his and our transgressions and remembers our sins no more (Isaiah 43:25).

This weekend the guys went to a secluded island to have 24 hours of silence and solitude. We weren’t able to speak to one another until sunrise. On one side of the island, there was the raging Pacific Ocean and on the other side there were massive mountains. In between the two sides, I felt like I was in the Garden of Eden. Watching monkeys swing from tree to tree, peacocks with beautiful manes, chickens, goats, and tiny fish with intricate detail. It must’ve been what Adam felt like, just walking and taking care of the Garden with the Lord. Later that night, I was sitting under the stars by a fire on the beach and I was thinking about how awesome God is. That the God who created the universe, sent His son to die for us so that we could be with Him. I saw the lights of a town off of the island, and a question popped into my mind, “Why do I fear man who created that small town more often than I fear the God who created everything from the planets to the small fish of the sea? Why do I seek man’s approval more than my Heavenly Father’s, who has redeemed me and made me a new creation?”

His love is sweeter than the honeycomb, richer than wine, better than the finest things, and we get to taste and see it.

Blessings,

Zach