A Day in the Life: Jaco Ministry

My days start anywhere from 6AM-7AM with quiet time and a cup of coffee 🙂 After that, we have devotional time with an elder from Horizon Church (one of the local churches here in Jaco). He shares with us practical ways to step into our authority and the calling the Lord has on us. It is a really neat way to do a devotional because it is very discussion based and leads to super intentional learning as well as dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Then, we set out for the day. It looks a little different depending on the week but most days we head to town and we paint light posts around town as a team. It’s just a simple way to bring some joy to this city & it creates an easy way for us to talk to people on the streets. Our light posts have been ocean scenes and we are finishing one post with a mango tree and some animals that are native to Jaco.

I’ve been learning about the impact art has on others and how we are all creative because of the creator. We get to paint the Lord’s creations around the city which has been beautiful and causes a lot of people to pause and thank us & in turn, we get to tell them why we are here and learn more about them! (Plus, this project is partnered with the government which is really cool opportunity to do something sustainable around town.)

This week we have been partnering directly with the local government (crazy, right?!) and working at the city’s recycling center to help sort through trash and separating different materials. Sometimes, it looks like getting mysterious liquids all over your legs & usually having to plug your nose due to the smell. Even in that, I strangely really really love this ministry. It’s a fun way to serve the city behind the scenes AND IT HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT!!!!!!!! 

On Wednesday & Sunday we get to do children’s ministry which is SO FUN! I love getting to hang out with the kids and having the opportunity to pour into their lives. Horizon Church has a class on Wednesday nights so we get to provide childcare and take some pressure off the staff there to hang out with kiddos during the class. The kids get to play and we get to love on them and just remind each of them of how seen and loved they are. Because I serve in children’s ministry at my home church it’s been reminding me of home & my Highlands fam which has been so so sweet. Little pieces of what feel like home all the way in Costa Rica.

Another way I’ve been serving recently is with worship! The Lord called me to step into this which has been really scary at most times but the Lord is redeeming this for me and teaching me a lot through it. 

Most nights, we get to go to the beach for sunset because ministry is between 9AM-5PM so we will usually try to head to the beach right after to rest and have fun with each other before the night. 

Weeks look different here, but it’s been such a joy to serve in Jaco and to get the opportunity to do ministry in new ways. This life is really joyous but it is also really really full. Time is packed with ministry but we are learning to balance adventure, fun, and ministry!