Finally back to some what of a normal schedule.  Thanks to everyone who has offered up words of encouragement during the loss of my grandmother.  We had a wonderful home going service for her.  My uncle lead the service and then I was able to close with a word of prayer. 

As promised I will begin recapping my trip to Costa Rica. I want to be as transparent as I can.

Lessons Learned

1. The gospel is for all people.  Sure I have heard this all my life, but did I really believe it like I should. Did I really live this out in my life every day.  To many times I was so spiritually arrogant that I kept the gospel to myself, or I would only present it to those who looked like just like me.  This trip taught me that the Gospel is for everyone.

2. We must have a heart for the nations.  I used to sit through missions week at college and hear the missionaries speak and think to myself “that’s good for you, but that is just not me.” Shame on me.  We get so comfortable that the thought of doing something that would make us uncomfortable scares us and causes us to live in disobedience.  I used to hate for people to come in and tell me I needed to go on a mission trip or do something with missions.  The fact is the truth hurts.  The reason I got mad was because they were right.  I needed to get out of the pew and start doing something for Jesus.

3. Loving Jesus is not about going to church and doing Christian things. Somehow we have this mindset that if I do my spiritual duties each day that makes me right with God. Loving Jesus is about loving others.  Ever tried to love someone who doesn’t look like you, smell like you, or even speak the same language as you. Going into the trip, I did not know what to expect.  Then God put a love for the people in my heart.  I have that love for the people of SC and the USA, now God has given me a love for the nations.

4. I really love American food. I am baptist so you know I have to talk about the food.  The food there was great, however there is only so many times that you can eat rice and beans.  One of the best things that I had was a steak that had bacon and cheese on it.  The food often had a good flavor to it, but it just wasn’t like home southern cooking if you know what I mean.  If you know me at all you know how picky of an eater I am, however I did try everything that was put before me.  Now that is progress.

5. Flying in an airplane will improve your prayer life.  I had never flown before so you can imagine how anxious I might have been.  As a matter of fact I really don’t want to talk anymore about it.  Just know that flying will help your prayer life.

I have more lessons that I learned that I will share in the days to come.

Thanks for all your prayers and support, may God continued to be glorified both here and in the nations.