Expect the Unexpected!

These past three weeks have been wonderful, being together with my team, and doing a host of things that I have come to love experiencing, in my day to day life.

When you get the opportunity to serve your teammates and learn new ways to cook from a fantastic host; there is much laughter mistakes occurring, but grace is given more freely. Expect the unexpected. 

when you communicate with locals, so you begin teaching them worship songs, and then over the course of a few weeks they are leading it. You pray it sticks with them, so there can be a ripple effect; and more lives are changed because of Jesus. Expect the unexpected. 

One thing that was really beautiful was hiking a 13,000′ volcano on one of our adventure days, and staying at base camp. By staying overnight, we watched the volcano erupt every 12-15 minutes. It was majestic…minus the ash raining down on you. Early in the morning, we summited to the top…another 1,000′. It was cold, but God came through in a painting a beautiful sunrise! Expect the unexpected. 

When small ones teach you Spanish; games of Pato-pato-ganso can not only be understood, but you can also partake in the deep belly laughs that expound from each child. Expect the unexpected. 

When you take an afternoon to learn from and teach new drawing techniques to teenagers, because they are willing, and want to spend time with you. Hearts become more open. Encouraging words flow freely, just as the pencil glosses gently across the paper. Expect the unexpected. 

When you have 15 people that are all going out to dinner, and you come across the most cost effective way: you go to a chicken bus, also known as a roller coaster. Expect the unexpected. 

When you have the opportunity to see how your squad mates respond to a travel day, and you yourself get to enjoy the beautiful scenery going by, from Guatemala to Honduras. You come to enjoy your bus seat for 15 or so hours, and embrace the little things; as you wait at the boarder crossing with 30 other friends. Fruits of the Spirit begin to grow. Expect the unexpected. 

When you get the opportunity to serve in your host ministry site for a week of doing manual labor, and see God at work in and through all the projects being done. You are sore, but it’s encouraging to see the smiles on your teammates faces before, during, and after the progress has been made. Expect the unexpected. 

When you get to worship with your squad mates, and the Honduran team, singing “Way Maker” in Spanish, because it’s been etched upon your heart. Expect the unexpected. 

When you ask your squad mates to go and check out the stars, and it turns into a time of prayer for others. Expect the unexpected. 

When the ants encompass peoples tents because of the rain coming, some are not fazed and others scream. I just played a game and wacked them off. Expect the unexpected. 

When you ask God to surprise you in the day, and He keeps reminding you of His love constantly… and that it’s all consuming. His people, His presence, and His creation! Expect the unexpected! Expect His Love! 

Some Prayers:

– To keep learning and growing in what He has for me as we step into the next month. To be like a tree and grow deeper roots! 

– Embrace each day as a gift, with conversations to be rich and seen through His eyes. 

– Having a deeper hunger for the world and love on His people. 

– To walk in obedience each step of the way.

– To continue to come along side of others and encourage them in stepping out of their comfort zones to be stretched more. And for others to do the same for me. 

– Contentment and peace as the 5 teams change from being all 30 individuals together as a squad to 5 distinct teams spread throughout Costa Rica.