Finishing the Marathon....

How are we in August tomorrow??? 

It has been a busy fun couple of months for me. As it is the busiest time of the year for me here in Costa Rica. We have had teams from the states (all over the US) working along side our ministry sites since mid-May and we have 1 week left of team season. It is crazy to think that God has allowed over 130 people to come and work with us here in Costa Rica this summer. And what a blessings those teams have been to us here. I have loved getting the chance to connect with people and share with them how God is using me here. BUT that also means longer hours of work, always being on, and less sleep.  I often refer to this season as my marathon season.

 For 12 weeks I am "on" and pouring into people from the states as well and trying to keep up with my "normal" work. There are some days were I am just trying to keep my head above water. Finding moments of quietness and refueling my spirit. But now, we only have 1 more week left in this race, and I find it easy for me to get caught up on all the things that "need to be done" and not on the team that is here. So my prayer has been Act 20:24.

  

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

I want to finish this marathon season well. That the last team that comes, will feel just as loved as the first team that came in May. Will you join me in praying for us here in CR as well as our other SI countries? (Nicaragua, Guatemala & DR)

Team Season also means that patient levels are running low and that gives the enemy the right opportunity to create conflict. Knowing this, I have been reminded lately to be mindful of how others are doing and how my attitude is. And it does help that we have been going over Ephesians 4 for the last 2 months in our staff meeting. 

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift" 

Ephesians 4:1-7

WOW! Even as I reread this, I am reminded again just how important unity is, not just with my SICR co-workers, but with us as a body of Believers!  Daily I am reminded  "to walk in a manner worthy of the calling" (v 1)  and to "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"(v 3). I am reminded that it is an action that I am called to protect the unity, not only with my SI family but with believers. That doesn't mean that I need to avoid conflict, but that I need to make sure that when I address a problem, that I do it with love and grace. This has been such a good reminder for me during this team season. That when I feel tired and my patient level is low, to stop and think about my attitude, my heart and to make sure that I keep the unity that I am called to keep.