As diverse as this community is, the Lord is uniting those seeking something new, authentic, and eternal.
Serving in San Juan Del Sur with two discipleship students from Florida, Grace, and Mia, reminded us that God's grace abounds among new believers, seasoned ones, and people of all backgrounds and languages. Throughout our time there, we had sweet opportunities to serve alongside and encourage the team that is faithfully pouring into this community. From leading worship and Bible studies at various gatherings to serving behind the coffee bar to painting tote bags with teen girls.
we witnessed the Lord tangibly shaping hearts and minds. Young and old are encountering our loving Savior and choosing to live surrendered to His will.
From day one, we stepped into the rhythms our Latin America team follows. This included capitalizing on the in-between moments like conversations during car rides to surf or skate or sharing a meal with the locals.
In those in-between moments at La Casa de Ride Nature, we met one of the local women who recently experienced God's life-changing power. Maria is a local who is joyful, confident, and welcoming. Quinsidentally, her son was invited to a VBS camp hosted by one of our teams from Florida last summer. She was so impressed by how much joy he experienced that week that he accepted the invitation to church that following Sunday evening. For a long time, Maria avoided the extremes branded as religion.
Yet that Sunday in July, the Lord was doing something new, drawing her into a sweet heavenly aroma that she couldn't avoid.
Since then, Maria hasn't looked back on a life of partying and vain living. Her definition of a good time transformed into a life committed to Christ, spending time in Scripture with other women and building her small business as an accountant. Maria served us so well by cooking our meals—as she does for teams that come to serve—and doing it with intentionality. She filled our afternoons with laughter, questions about God, and even a motorbike tour of San Juan Del Sur! The Lord's grace is increasingly evident in Maria, to say the least.
It wasn't lost on us that, as God's children, we carry the ever-pleasant aroma of heaven wherever we go. For those seeking more out of this life, the depths of God's love, joy, and truth at work in us offer the fulfillment nothing else can. Like Maria, many in this community are experiencing Jesus and growing in the knowledge and grace of their Creator. Some ask preliminary questions about our faith, while others go deeper by choosing to be baptized and discipled. The Holy Spirit is stirring hearts and drawing people closer to Himself. We were ever grateful for how He's moving in Latin America and choosing to use this ministry to build His Kingdom!
